I just read an interesting article about a guy who moved to Manhattan all gung-ho to make it and who became disheartened after a few weeks there when reality set in. (my same experience when I moved there, lol) so on an errand he started counting all the things that made him happy. A Mother walking a baby in a stroller all bundled up, a jet going over (fascination with flying) etc. etc.
He perked up and goes on to become successful in the years to come but always remembered his "gratitude walk".
The article goes on to cite a study with group A) those who counted things that made them happy as they went through their day, B) those who counted the hassles and C) those who just counted the days events.
Not surprising to hear the results...those who counted the things they were grateful for were happier, more productive, healthier, had less vices, were more willing to help others, were more successful, etc, etc.
It got me thinking...remember when gratitude journals were all the rage? Well, I could never keep one because I just cannot seem to journal (which is why I love to blog I suppose...techno-journaling) but I can certainly count things that make me happy. Now, I am a pretty positive person to begin with but I can get frustrated pretty easily too and I have to wonder how many of us take gratitude walks through their life, count hassles or just mark time with what-they-do.
Reading some blogs kind of tells the tale actually...Lol, ouch!
I am going to try to walk around counting the things and focusing on the things that I am grateful for...not just saying thanks in my prayers but in a perpetual state of thanksgiving.
If you want to try it to, I would love if you would email me in a few days and let me know and thoughts, stories or anything that comes out of it....then I'll put together an update post (keeping you anonymous if you wish) and re-post the results.
Come on, humor me! Get busy noticing things that make you happy and being thankful. I want to post a result that our lives were changed subtley or dramatically by just noticing things that make us happy and being grateful for them!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
God cares about the details
How many times have we said this?
Well, K has been needing some clothes BADLY. I mean, her onesies can't snap anymore, hear what I'm sayin'??? So on to ebay I go where I find the most incredible lot of baby clothes I've ever seen. To DIE for cute. All baby Gap, Children's place clothes. Now, I have never, ever been a label buyer, but these clothes made me realize why their clothes were perceived as so much better...because they are. Lol So of course I get J bidding on them. The lot (about 20 different outfits) is up to over 200.00. Wow. I start thinking with 100.00 I can go to Wal Mart and get more than what I need. But Jeff bids for me anyway as he KNOWS this has become as big a want as need. If you knew J, you would know what a gift to me this was because he is the epitome of being frugal. Goes to 250, 300, finally at our being outbid at 322.00 even I cannot stand it anymore and put a stop to it. Ridiculous says I!
A few days later, Fearless shows up with like 20 dresses for K. Some for play, some for church. I could practically get through winter with them.
And then yesterday another friend who came for lunch brought three HUGE tubs of play clothes in the exact right size. Even up to age 2 if I wanted. Onesies, outfits, dresses, leggings, sweaters, pants, on and on and on and on. I took a huge lot from the tubs and they are still full to be returned....
And would you guess what? They are mostly all Baby Gap and Children's place. (Just so soft and stretchy!) A bigger lot, (by far) all for free. Now, to me this says, God can do all things if you give him a chance and are obedient to what he says about money. He blessed me BIGGER than the ebay lot...He just put it together a different way. I love how He works!
Thanks to those who gave or lent me clothes and thanks be to God who can clothe the lilies of the field AND my darling Kate!
Well, K has been needing some clothes BADLY. I mean, her onesies can't snap anymore, hear what I'm sayin'??? So on to ebay I go where I find the most incredible lot of baby clothes I've ever seen. To DIE for cute. All baby Gap, Children's place clothes. Now, I have never, ever been a label buyer, but these clothes made me realize why their clothes were perceived as so much better...because they are. Lol So of course I get J bidding on them. The lot (about 20 different outfits) is up to over 200.00. Wow. I start thinking with 100.00 I can go to Wal Mart and get more than what I need. But Jeff bids for me anyway as he KNOWS this has become as big a want as need. If you knew J, you would know what a gift to me this was because he is the epitome of being frugal. Goes to 250, 300, finally at our being outbid at 322.00 even I cannot stand it anymore and put a stop to it. Ridiculous says I!
A few days later, Fearless shows up with like 20 dresses for K. Some for play, some for church. I could practically get through winter with them.
And then yesterday another friend who came for lunch brought three HUGE tubs of play clothes in the exact right size. Even up to age 2 if I wanted. Onesies, outfits, dresses, leggings, sweaters, pants, on and on and on and on. I took a huge lot from the tubs and they are still full to be returned....
And would you guess what? They are mostly all Baby Gap and Children's place. (Just so soft and stretchy!) A bigger lot, (by far) all for free. Now, to me this says, God can do all things if you give him a chance and are obedient to what he says about money. He blessed me BIGGER than the ebay lot...He just put it together a different way. I love how He works!
Thanks to those who gave or lent me clothes and thanks be to God who can clothe the lilies of the field AND my darling Kate!
Monday, October 29, 2007
My favorite things...
A freshly diapered and jammied baby sleeping on my shoulder
smell of sausage cooking in the morning
kids singing as they work
a seven year old's laughter
a really good read
anticipation of a new baby
a happy husband
gleaning from scripture
growing in faith
LIFE!
smell of sausage cooking in the morning
kids singing as they work
a seven year old's laughter
a really good read
anticipation of a new baby
a happy husband
gleaning from scripture
growing in faith
LIFE!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The JOY of Homeschooling
I got thinking today and discussing with S about school and the how we keep it joyful. My concern has always been that they grow up and look back on their homeschooling experience administered by a completely inexperienced Mom and say, "No way".
Now thankfully, this most likely will never apply, God willing, because we are raising them in the truth that homeschooling is biblical and there really isn't another option unless God literally calls them to something else. Usually doubtful. (When in doubt, go with the biblical model, not exception) Plus since they will be courted, their future Dh's will have been raised the same way.
Anyway, I was explaining that I was concerned that since I was learning as I go, that they would feel like the idea of homeschooling was not really a meaty and meaningful experience. She was saying how she enjoyed structure but didn't retain from it (I am an unstructured teacher and am always lamenting it) and we got off on all that meant and we talked about how Mom's often teach from the perspective of how THEY learn. What a mistake! I took comfort that they are retaining what I teach them even though it is taught in an unstructured way. Much better than read-the-chapter-answer-the-questions. It actually requires much more than structured teaching does but it pays off in the end.
Ok, somehow I am not talking much about joy, let me get back on track.
So I say "When school's not fun, school is done" and that is the very truth of our existence. I will never know why there has to be tears, frustration or anger in homeschooling. If there are those things, you may usually blame the parents. If the child is consistently acting up-discipline problem. If the child is frustrated with the work-well, that can be any number of problems.
If your child is crying, screaming, ranting, raving, yawning, whining, complaining or refusing, it is time to change your approach, not your child. Lol I mean, you KNOW I am all for discipline. I am NOT talking about a discipline issue. But if you are a super structured person and are trying to teach an artist, forget it. If you are a unstructured teacher and are trying to teach a structured child, then you must learn to teach to their personality. (That one is mine)
There will be JOY in this house when we do school and chores (affectionately called homeblessing here) and anything else.
Laugh, tickle, make up funny things to learn. Please don't MAKE your children learn. (which will end up in their not) but MOLD your children into learners.
If you lack joy in your homeschooling endeavors, it is likely that you may be teaching as if you are teaching yourself instead of adapting to each of your child's needs.
I don't want to put on my "teacher's hat" when I teach. I want to be loving, fun, happy MOM teaching from her heart to the very heart of her babes.
Now thankfully, this most likely will never apply, God willing, because we are raising them in the truth that homeschooling is biblical and there really isn't another option unless God literally calls them to something else. Usually doubtful. (When in doubt, go with the biblical model, not exception) Plus since they will be courted, their future Dh's will have been raised the same way.
Anyway, I was explaining that I was concerned that since I was learning as I go, that they would feel like the idea of homeschooling was not really a meaty and meaningful experience. She was saying how she enjoyed structure but didn't retain from it (I am an unstructured teacher and am always lamenting it) and we got off on all that meant and we talked about how Mom's often teach from the perspective of how THEY learn. What a mistake! I took comfort that they are retaining what I teach them even though it is taught in an unstructured way. Much better than read-the-chapter-answer-the-questions. It actually requires much more than structured teaching does but it pays off in the end.
Ok, somehow I am not talking much about joy, let me get back on track.
So I say "When school's not fun, school is done" and that is the very truth of our existence. I will never know why there has to be tears, frustration or anger in homeschooling. If there are those things, you may usually blame the parents. If the child is consistently acting up-discipline problem. If the child is frustrated with the work-well, that can be any number of problems.
If your child is crying, screaming, ranting, raving, yawning, whining, complaining or refusing, it is time to change your approach, not your child. Lol I mean, you KNOW I am all for discipline. I am NOT talking about a discipline issue. But if you are a super structured person and are trying to teach an artist, forget it. If you are a unstructured teacher and are trying to teach a structured child, then you must learn to teach to their personality. (That one is mine)
There will be JOY in this house when we do school and chores (affectionately called homeblessing here) and anything else.
Laugh, tickle, make up funny things to learn. Please don't MAKE your children learn. (which will end up in their not) but MOLD your children into learners.
If you lack joy in your homeschooling endeavors, it is likely that you may be teaching as if you are teaching yourself instead of adapting to each of your child's needs.
I don't want to put on my "teacher's hat" when I teach. I want to be loving, fun, happy MOM teaching from her heart to the very heart of her babes.
Winter Skies
Look at God's beautiful creation this morning!I LOVE fall and winter skies in Florida. They are remarkable. Pics just don't do them justice!
Good Morning!
Well, the baby slept through the night last night!! I've been up since 4:30 since I got so much sleep...funny how I am getting up often at the same time SOMEONE ELSE I KNOW is just going to bed...Lol
But I am thrilled she is still sleeping. I have been inching her morning nap later and later, she had a LONG nap yesterday and then have been putting her to bed later as well. (8:30 last night) and sleep she did! So...I have been up and able to do lots before the house wakes.
Mostly computer work but you know, for all of our worry, commentary or guilt about the computer, I really do a lot of work, research and working things out on it. I am thankful for it. I spent all morning pouring over the 100 sample pages of Lisa's scope and sequence, "The Checklist". It goes from K-12 and is comprehensive to say the least. I thought I was going to like Joyce Herzog's better but it seems only prudent that I get one that goes through 12th...
Anyway, my point is that I am excited again about school and wonder why I have never been exposed to a COMPLEX S & S before. I have seen plenty but never like this. It seems to be just what someone who schools like me would need. An outline to follow (however I like) throughout their entire school career....no more missing the "Byzantine Empire"...Lol
I guess I should do a google search on S&S's and see if their are any free ones out there but I like the Christian perspective....
But I am thrilled she is still sleeping. I have been inching her morning nap later and later, she had a LONG nap yesterday and then have been putting her to bed later as well. (8:30 last night) and sleep she did! So...I have been up and able to do lots before the house wakes.
Mostly computer work but you know, for all of our worry, commentary or guilt about the computer, I really do a lot of work, research and working things out on it. I am thankful for it. I spent all morning pouring over the 100 sample pages of Lisa's scope and sequence, "The Checklist". It goes from K-12 and is comprehensive to say the least. I thought I was going to like Joyce Herzog's better but it seems only prudent that I get one that goes through 12th...
Anyway, my point is that I am excited again about school and wonder why I have never been exposed to a COMPLEX S & S before. I have seen plenty but never like this. It seems to be just what someone who schools like me would need. An outline to follow (however I like) throughout their entire school career....no more missing the "Byzantine Empire"...Lol
I guess I should do a google search on S&S's and see if their are any free ones out there but I like the Christian perspective....
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Busy Little Bees
As I begin to lessen the time spent doing non-constructive things at home, we decided that we would always have each girl have a sewing project, an art project and a music project going on. I am not sure how it will all pan out, but when there is "nothing to do" we will now have something other than the typical stuff we don't want them doing but let them anyway! Lol We always have down time as I run on "high" most of the time which means at least for a good 1/4 of the day I feel like doing almost nothing. SO now we will always have these projects to do. Sometimes they will be lofty, sometimes just busy work but always better than what the alternative is. L is THRILLED with her first "big girl" project. I can't believe I actually have to deal with another binding. GRRRRR!!!!! But it is totally cute and she did all the sewing herself! We must keep their little hands busy, mustn't we?They read altogether too much if such a thing is possible and are finishing books every other day so I am happy to move on to some other fine arts as well. All this sewing. Is anyone else's house a wreck with it?
New days ahead...
Well, I have totally given up school the way I've been trying do it. Whew. There. Done!
WHY I ever thought I could school all three at once is beyond me. What was I thinking? So I am excited to create curriculums for each of them. There is no sense getting any one curriculum for each one. I always change it anyway. So I shall CREATE!!!!!!!! (hear booming echo)
For S- TLP, history, and mastery of all things math (needed for practical life) And of course continuing life skills. She is growing up!
For R- I'd like to do the MFW with her because I know L and S would glean some good stuff. Of course I cannot find the teacher's manual to save my life...I also ordered her first TLP!
And L? Well, she's just a SPONGE and can learn anything so I will increase her reading in terms of consistency and introduce some basic math and writing. I have held off of too much too soon for her and I am glad. She is the only one I really didn't encourage to write or do math young so it will be interesting to see how she picks it up. She has recently been asking, How do I spell this, how do I spell that, so I know it is probably time. She is SUCH a free spirit, I hate to have to bring her into the house!
I liked Steph's Joyce Herzog's Luke's Lists but at $40 and $30 each, they seem to pricey for me!
I think though with a scope and sequence I'd feel better...I really liked that one...
So give me lots of encouragement ladies as I am hoping, I think like we all do, for the best!
WHY I ever thought I could school all three at once is beyond me. What was I thinking? So I am excited to create curriculums for each of them. There is no sense getting any one curriculum for each one. I always change it anyway. So I shall CREATE!!!!!!!! (hear booming echo)
For S- TLP, history, and mastery of all things math (needed for practical life) And of course continuing life skills. She is growing up!
For R- I'd like to do the MFW with her because I know L and S would glean some good stuff. Of course I cannot find the teacher's manual to save my life...I also ordered her first TLP!
And L? Well, she's just a SPONGE and can learn anything so I will increase her reading in terms of consistency and introduce some basic math and writing. I have held off of too much too soon for her and I am glad. She is the only one I really didn't encourage to write or do math young so it will be interesting to see how she picks it up. She has recently been asking, How do I spell this, how do I spell that, so I know it is probably time. She is SUCH a free spirit, I hate to have to bring her into the house!
I liked Steph's Joyce Herzog's Luke's Lists but at $40 and $30 each, they seem to pricey for me!
I think though with a scope and sequence I'd feel better...I really liked that one...
So give me lots of encouragement ladies as I am hoping, I think like we all do, for the best!
To family integrate or not to family integrate...It is no question at all
I did a post on family integration yesterday but deleted it. Before anyone had read it. Or so I thought. ;) My thoughts were not succinct and I was having trouble expressing. So here goes again.
I just want to say that for us, family integration is a must that is backed by scripture. We not only shepard our kids hearts, we shepard their thoughts, attitudes and activities! We keep them from being exposed to behavior we do not approve of by sheparding, thereby minimizing the risk of their adopting such behavior.
We shepard until we are SURE that biblical truth is well ingrained and that spiritual fruit is being observed. Then, when they are exposed to behavior, attitudes or words we do not approve of, it is not only US who do not approve, but our children who do not approve either.
They will not be influenced then. They will do the influencing.
Even if our children will not join in bad behavior, we still do not want them exposed to it.
Trust me. There will be PLENTY of exposure in their lifetime. So those who you know who might say, "you can't protect them forever-you can't isolate-you can't keep them innocent forever" type of rhetoric, be sure to remember that they will get plenty of "toughening up" from the world. Why would we force it ANY time before absolutely necessary? A 7 year old does NOT need to know the ways of the world.
My 14 year old still gets involved in high play with my 7 and 10 year old. She can play with the rest of them. You better believe her thoughts and actions do NOT match up to the world's typical 14 year old. But further, she is set apart from even the typical mainstream Christian 14 year old. Because we shepard. She does not get farmed out to youth group where the MTV generation thrives. She has retained her innocence and- we are beginning to recognize, will maintain that innocence and take it with her into marriage and beyond! And that is sadly missing from a typically churched or Christian teenager.
Further, it is a biblical mandate that fathers teach their children. Put them under the authority of others and not only do you risk exposure to wrong behaviors, you also risk wrong teaching and you may also witness a subtle transfer of loyalty.
For us, keeping our kids with us is not just a choice, it is a vital and imperative part of our raising our children to the Glory of God. We keep checking the fruit of family integration and the fruit of the opposite and that old proverbial proof lies in the pudding!
I just want to say that for us, family integration is a must that is backed by scripture. We not only shepard our kids hearts, we shepard their thoughts, attitudes and activities! We keep them from being exposed to behavior we do not approve of by sheparding, thereby minimizing the risk of their adopting such behavior.
We shepard until we are SURE that biblical truth is well ingrained and that spiritual fruit is being observed. Then, when they are exposed to behavior, attitudes or words we do not approve of, it is not only US who do not approve, but our children who do not approve either.
They will not be influenced then. They will do the influencing.
Even if our children will not join in bad behavior, we still do not want them exposed to it.
Trust me. There will be PLENTY of exposure in their lifetime. So those who you know who might say, "you can't protect them forever-you can't isolate-you can't keep them innocent forever" type of rhetoric, be sure to remember that they will get plenty of "toughening up" from the world. Why would we force it ANY time before absolutely necessary? A 7 year old does NOT need to know the ways of the world.
My 14 year old still gets involved in high play with my 7 and 10 year old. She can play with the rest of them. You better believe her thoughts and actions do NOT match up to the world's typical 14 year old. But further, she is set apart from even the typical mainstream Christian 14 year old. Because we shepard. She does not get farmed out to youth group where the MTV generation thrives. She has retained her innocence and- we are beginning to recognize, will maintain that innocence and take it with her into marriage and beyond! And that is sadly missing from a typically churched or Christian teenager.
Further, it is a biblical mandate that fathers teach their children. Put them under the authority of others and not only do you risk exposure to wrong behaviors, you also risk wrong teaching and you may also witness a subtle transfer of loyalty.
For us, keeping our kids with us is not just a choice, it is a vital and imperative part of our raising our children to the Glory of God. We keep checking the fruit of family integration and the fruit of the opposite and that old proverbial proof lies in the pudding!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Pray what?
Lauren informed me that she has been praying for the new baby.
She said she told the Lord, "I know it's whatever you will Lord, but personally, I'm praying for a boy".
Too funny!
She said she told the Lord, "I know it's whatever you will Lord, but personally, I'm praying for a boy".
Too funny!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Let's Go Baby-O!
Well, you all know by now anyway, but YES, we are pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glory to God!!!!!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glory to God!!!!!!!!!!
I was going to type all these funny things about the situation and passing out credit to this one and that but the seriousness of it has taken hold and only ONE deserves credit at all. So no jesting here, thank you JESUS for your blessings and mercies in every form they come.
The Lord is mighty and great! And His name is to be PRAISED!
Please my sisters, pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby....I feel like this is our very first baby!
Loss is an interesting thing. It truly does make you appreciate life even more...
I have never asked for prayer more fervently than now.
Ok, WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're PG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
People Pleasing Poison
Well, I finally came to some answers this morning.
While watching a much enjoyed TV evangelist this morning he finally verbalized the truth about himself.
Joel Osteen, either loved or hated by many, was speaking about the dangers of being a people pleaser. I have enjoyed Joel for a long time now after getting over the intense need to mock his niceness. Lol
Today he said of his critics, that many say "Joel this or Joel that", he doesn't have enough theology, he doesn't...whatever. And that like Paul and the viper (an often quoted scripture by myself as well) he has learned to just "shake it off". He said he knew that God had gifted him with the gift of encouragement! That he wasn't meant to offer deep theological and doctrinal insights. He was meant to encourage! And that his critics had little to do with him perhaps but more about the envy of the success God had given him. Finally, permission to like Joel! I get that he is not a theological giant. He KNOWS he is not up there quoting deep theological insights but he is there to encourage. He is using the natural gift that God gave him. Good for him! And he is not pretending to be anything else but.
I have listened to his critics in my own life and tried to find the "wrong" or "heresy" in what he does, but all I find is well, encouragement! He made some faulty statements once on Larry King and had everyone in an uproar but I shudder to think if we were all in a fish bowl how many faulty things would be found in us!
I used to be a people pleaser myself and still find myself struggling with the need to have everyone "like me". A real problem considering my strong and passionate personality and thoughts and beliefs on touchy issues. But I have also learned, the hard way, that not everyone will like me or accept me and that I can shake off my critics too and simply stand!
Another problem with wanting people to like me is the very fact that I can stand in my beliefs. That alone can make people bite. The very fact that I am now out of the closet about enjoying Joel Osteen will turn a few heads in my circle. How sad if it does. They will have missed the point!
I may not go to Joel for my deep theological meal but certainly a bit of encouragement is also needed in today's world. It certainly is in my life.
I am going through some sort of transition spiritually right now, trying to find my way...I love true theology and even doctrine. But I am lacking the old spiritual fervor that I used to so enjoy. I think it fine, right and true to seek deeper truth. Vital, in fact. But I think worship of all kinds is also meant to be enjoyed, not be a lamentation! There is a place for all seriousness but to the point of missing the JOY of worshipping and exalting God is difficult for me.
Critics would say that you have to be careful with "feelings" or "warm fuzzies" but anyone who knows me knows that I could never stand for that!
Presenting oneself as "worthy" is hopeless. We are simply worthy because God says so, not because we are good enough. So we might as well relax and enjoy God ALONG with being scripturally accurate!
While watching a much enjoyed TV evangelist this morning he finally verbalized the truth about himself.
Joel Osteen, either loved or hated by many, was speaking about the dangers of being a people pleaser. I have enjoyed Joel for a long time now after getting over the intense need to mock his niceness. Lol
Today he said of his critics, that many say "Joel this or Joel that", he doesn't have enough theology, he doesn't...whatever. And that like Paul and the viper (an often quoted scripture by myself as well) he has learned to just "shake it off". He said he knew that God had gifted him with the gift of encouragement! That he wasn't meant to offer deep theological and doctrinal insights. He was meant to encourage! And that his critics had little to do with him perhaps but more about the envy of the success God had given him. Finally, permission to like Joel! I get that he is not a theological giant. He KNOWS he is not up there quoting deep theological insights but he is there to encourage. He is using the natural gift that God gave him. Good for him! And he is not pretending to be anything else but.
I have listened to his critics in my own life and tried to find the "wrong" or "heresy" in what he does, but all I find is well, encouragement! He made some faulty statements once on Larry King and had everyone in an uproar but I shudder to think if we were all in a fish bowl how many faulty things would be found in us!
I used to be a people pleaser myself and still find myself struggling with the need to have everyone "like me". A real problem considering my strong and passionate personality and thoughts and beliefs on touchy issues. But I have also learned, the hard way, that not everyone will like me or accept me and that I can shake off my critics too and simply stand!
Another problem with wanting people to like me is the very fact that I can stand in my beliefs. That alone can make people bite. The very fact that I am now out of the closet about enjoying Joel Osteen will turn a few heads in my circle. How sad if it does. They will have missed the point!
I may not go to Joel for my deep theological meal but certainly a bit of encouragement is also needed in today's world. It certainly is in my life.
I am going through some sort of transition spiritually right now, trying to find my way...I love true theology and even doctrine. But I am lacking the old spiritual fervor that I used to so enjoy. I think it fine, right and true to seek deeper truth. Vital, in fact. But I think worship of all kinds is also meant to be enjoyed, not be a lamentation! There is a place for all seriousness but to the point of missing the JOY of worshipping and exalting God is difficult for me.
Critics would say that you have to be careful with "feelings" or "warm fuzzies" but anyone who knows me knows that I could never stand for that!
Presenting oneself as "worthy" is hopeless. We are simply worthy because God says so, not because we are good enough. So we might as well relax and enjoy God ALONG with being scripturally accurate!
PlayFoam
Here is a new toy that the kids got yesterday at the mall!!! They love it and evidently their art ability stretched into sculpting! It is called PlayFoam. (no it does not smell at all Fearless!) I thought I must be crazy getting little beady things like this but it is a really cool medium to work with and I can see lots of it in our future!
Princess locked in tower with fire breathing dragon and knight with sword on horse
race car
Fairy princess on unicorn...
amazing!
Princess locked in tower with fire breathing dragon and knight with sword on horse
race car
Fairy princess on unicorn...
amazing!
Had a wonderful time at New Hope's big bbq last night. They had horses, a jumpy jump, hayrides, face painting, shrimp boil , a band and more!We all sat around socializing while the kids went crazy. L had SUCH a good time playing with friends and I am yet reminded at what an amazing community this is. Churches intermingling and having fun..different denominations gathering in fellowship...Amazing!
(Sunset by God!)
Mom, I tell ya, I like this place!
K with ducks
Big and little friends...
Totally Rach
L's first time on a horse!
Cutie-patootie
Chattin' it up!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Keepers At home Part 9: Farming them out
On the heels of my last post, it strikes me when a parent says "they have no idea where that came from". We have all said it at least once, probably LOTS more than that. Lol
But I know the answer as we all do I think, in our hearts. It comes from one (or both) of only two places. In the home. Or outside the home.
If we are raising our children to the Glory of God inside the home, then they are not getting worldly behavior from there. Even the occasional outburst from a parent will usually not be influential enough for them to carry outside the home because they will be immersed in Godliness most of the time and will know better. (It is a humbling thing for me to lose my patience and know that the kids know that I have done a wrong thing. Godly kids can even hone you!)
So that leaves the dreaded alternative....outside the home. Now, we cannot keep them from everything, nor should we. Let us just qualify that straight off. But we are to shelter them, sheperd them, until they are able to stand on their own... So where are they getting it?
Brownies, boyscouts, school, other's homes, youth group, children's church, anywhere we farm them out to where we have no supervision. I am at a loss to understand why we farm them out so young. If they are not the ones doing the influencing, then they are too young to go. I know more Christians with worldly kids whose homes I am somewhat confident holds God in high esteem. When they are young and have not yet fully developed a Christian World View and we send them off regularly to places where the world has seeped in, you may fully expect the world to seep all the way into your own children.
When they are old enough and well trained enough and have the Living God within them, when they go out, they shall be far less likely to absorb and then repeat sinful behavior. DON'T send your kids out too early. Like the disciples of Christ, who were taught, trained and immersed in Christ and then sent out, we too must teach, train and immerse until they are ready to go out and make a difference in the world instead of the world making a difference in them.
It makes no sense to have to train bad behavior OUT of a child. We are to train Godly behavior INTO them and then release them to make disciples of all the nations. We do not pollute our kids with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes only to then train them not to do it. Why then, do we pollute them with the world which is far worse and then try to train it out of them?
Salt flavors nothing while still in a salt flat. It must be harvested, cleansed and prepared. It then is sent out to flavor the world!
But I know the answer as we all do I think, in our hearts. It comes from one (or both) of only two places. In the home. Or outside the home.
If we are raising our children to the Glory of God inside the home, then they are not getting worldly behavior from there. Even the occasional outburst from a parent will usually not be influential enough for them to carry outside the home because they will be immersed in Godliness most of the time and will know better. (It is a humbling thing for me to lose my patience and know that the kids know that I have done a wrong thing. Godly kids can even hone you!)
So that leaves the dreaded alternative....outside the home. Now, we cannot keep them from everything, nor should we. Let us just qualify that straight off. But we are to shelter them, sheperd them, until they are able to stand on their own... So where are they getting it?
Brownies, boyscouts, school, other's homes, youth group, children's church, anywhere we farm them out to where we have no supervision. I am at a loss to understand why we farm them out so young. If they are not the ones doing the influencing, then they are too young to go. I know more Christians with worldly kids whose homes I am somewhat confident holds God in high esteem. When they are young and have not yet fully developed a Christian World View and we send them off regularly to places where the world has seeped in, you may fully expect the world to seep all the way into your own children.
When they are old enough and well trained enough and have the Living God within them, when they go out, they shall be far less likely to absorb and then repeat sinful behavior. DON'T send your kids out too early. Like the disciples of Christ, who were taught, trained and immersed in Christ and then sent out, we too must teach, train and immerse until they are ready to go out and make a difference in the world instead of the world making a difference in them.
It makes no sense to have to train bad behavior OUT of a child. We are to train Godly behavior INTO them and then release them to make disciples of all the nations. We do not pollute our kids with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes only to then train them not to do it. Why then, do we pollute them with the world which is far worse and then try to train it out of them?
Salt flavors nothing while still in a salt flat. It must be harvested, cleansed and prepared. It then is sent out to flavor the world!
Standing
We were at the park the other day and Little L was playing with some friends. She called after them, "Wait for me!" to which one little child responded, "We don't want to wait for you." L stood there not knowing what to say or do. Then another child said, "That wasn't very nice."
My Dh and I were talking about it and how he too was happy the second child spoke up and offered what could be construed as an olive branch out to my own child. It somehow allowed her to continue on in play and not be out cast. He said usually when one kid is mean, most others would join in.
It got me thinking about standing. Something I think about a lot and teach to the girls a lot. It is hard to do but imperative that we do. In our home, when someone is offended, we often talk about "how it makes them feel" and why that is the reason we don't do or say whatever it is. It has worked well. Unfortunately it has left them with little experience with being offended as they are not offended at home nearly at all by their sibs. So when they get out there, it comes as a shock!
We have to stand for others. Stand. Stand. Stand. God's Word even makes it clear that when we do nothing in the face of injustice, it is sin. I am glad that there are others out there, as young as Little L, who are not afraid to stand.
Forgive me, but...
I was just thinking about a few things I have been wanting to (needing to?) blog for a while now but haven't for fear of content. Of course when it comes to blogs, you run the risk of, well, many things! It is never my intention to irritate, agitate or infuriate! Lol
But I wanted to say (and probably will every now and again) that for me, I started this blog for one reason and one reason only. I am NOT a journaler. Never could do it.
So I began the blog to one day PASS ON to my children my thoughts through life, funny stories and pics (since I never seem to print any) and so on.
I hope they one day invent something that I can use to PRINT my blog and bind and GIVE to my kids so that they can see my inner most thoughts from their own adult perspective.
So many (really most) things I write are FOR THEM. It seems to me like an added fun element to share it but really it is for them. So please forgive me if I step on any toes with what I say...they are my beliefs and are being used to raise our girls, for better or worse. I know we all believe differently and probably most of us think we are "right". My point is that your blog is to say what you think and mine is to say what I think. Am I right? Lol
But I wanted to say (and probably will every now and again) that for me, I started this blog for one reason and one reason only. I am NOT a journaler. Never could do it.
So I began the blog to one day PASS ON to my children my thoughts through life, funny stories and pics (since I never seem to print any) and so on.
I hope they one day invent something that I can use to PRINT my blog and bind and GIVE to my kids so that they can see my inner most thoughts from their own adult perspective.
So many (really most) things I write are FOR THEM. It seems to me like an added fun element to share it but really it is for them. So please forgive me if I step on any toes with what I say...they are my beliefs and are being used to raise our girls, for better or worse. I know we all believe differently and probably most of us think we are "right". My point is that your blog is to say what you think and mine is to say what I think. Am I right? Lol
Friday, October 19, 2007
Funny Faces
Abracadabra It magically POPS out my mouth!
And then, pops out here!
Techno-baby. I know, I know, TOTALLY not my doing and yes, I make sure it is on the LOWEST volume. BTW- She loves and I mean loves, music!
Mom, please, can you quit reading sleep training books?
Cup O' nine plagues...
Well, I am officially cutting down on caffeine. Yep. Gotta do it. I have such a high tolerance for
EVERYTHING that it is impossible to properly gauge what I am doing unless I (ugh) pay attention. Lol I figure somewhere, whether I notice it or not, it just CANNOT be good for K. So today I only had about 2.5-3 cups total. Better than my normal close to 10 or more cups. No ice coffee, no nada. I don't get any withdrawal symptoms so I should count myself lucky. I LOVE coffee but enough reading in the OT makes it perfectly clear about what constitutes an idol!
Easy Does It...
And, this is what the baby was doing when the chair tipped over and the metal bar landed on her FACE. She is so light I never thought about it tipping over! She was fine but she has a little bruise and swolen eye. What IS it about babies getting hurt that can drive you to near panic so fast! Poor thing. I noticed her little banged up legs in the tub tonight. She has always been such a go getter. Chasing after her big sissies, trying to do everything. She could climb stairs like a mad woman before 8 months and is currently trying to walk down stairs like an adult. She is much better about putting things into her mouth though and that is such a relief. She remains, the love of this entire family's life!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Surprise!
Ran into M tonight at Publix! I was so excited to see her as she cannot come Monday and is busy this weekend too! So she came over for an impromptu visit and the kids played while we had a good chat. Had some steak, baked potatoes and salad. Nothing fancy but food! We looked at some pics and had a few laughs while K danced like crazy and H was a ballerina!
Such an unexpected treat!
Such an unexpected treat!
Winner....me!
Ok, so I am in K Mart today and I NEVER shop there but they had something specific I wanted and I am walking ALL THE WAY back to the toy section (and anyone who knows this K Mart knows how far that is) when this woman approaches me all friendly-like saying, "Did you get your ticket for the drawing for the free gold necklace?" "No" says I. So she gives me a ticket and tells me the drawing is in three minutes.
It was literally just like in the movies when everything goes into slow motion and little fairy dust sprinkles around....she places the ticket in my hand and I KNOW I am going to win.
So I continue on to the toy section listening for the loudspeaker thinking she will announce the number over that. I barely hear the loudspeaker as I am standing under a HUGE fan so I rush to another speaker. I hear her say that if we haven't dropped the other half of our ticket in we better get to it. YIKES. I didn't even know I had to do that so off I run.
I put it in and she does her little sales shpeil for other jewelry...ok, time for the drawing. Whoever wins has to yell whoopee!!! or else she will have everyone boo them, she says.
Ladies, I MEAN I KNEW I was going to win. When the lady gave me the ticket I literally almost called S to tell her I was about to win a gold necklace, I was so positive. Not hopeful just relaxed and sure.
So she PULLS out the first number and before she reads it, this lady goes..I DON'T HAVE A TICKET!!!!!So the lady puts the ticket back in the bag and gives the new lady a ticket and puts hers in. (no one was too happy about that!) So she pulls out the SECOND ticket.
352 she calls!!!! Not my number. How could it be not my number? I KNEW I was going to win.
352? 352 going once, twice, GONE! (you had to be present to win!)
So she pulls out the THIRD number....4.......7.......4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoopeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yell!! Yep! It was my number and I won it! Lol
Ahhh, good times, good times. Now, the necklace will SURELY turn anyone's neck three shades of Irish green but who cares??? I won!!
It was literally just like in the movies when everything goes into slow motion and little fairy dust sprinkles around....she places the ticket in my hand and I KNOW I am going to win.
So I continue on to the toy section listening for the loudspeaker thinking she will announce the number over that. I barely hear the loudspeaker as I am standing under a HUGE fan so I rush to another speaker. I hear her say that if we haven't dropped the other half of our ticket in we better get to it. YIKES. I didn't even know I had to do that so off I run.
I put it in and she does her little sales shpeil for other jewelry...ok, time for the drawing. Whoever wins has to yell whoopee!!! or else she will have everyone boo them, she says.
Ladies, I MEAN I KNEW I was going to win. When the lady gave me the ticket I literally almost called S to tell her I was about to win a gold necklace, I was so positive. Not hopeful just relaxed and sure.
So she PULLS out the first number and before she reads it, this lady goes..I DON'T HAVE A TICKET!!!!!So the lady puts the ticket back in the bag and gives the new lady a ticket and puts hers in. (no one was too happy about that!) So she pulls out the SECOND ticket.
352 she calls!!!! Not my number. How could it be not my number? I KNEW I was going to win.
352? 352 going once, twice, GONE! (you had to be present to win!)
So she pulls out the THIRD number....4.......7.......4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoopeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yell!! Yep! It was my number and I won it! Lol
Ahhh, good times, good times. Now, the necklace will SURELY turn anyone's neck three shades of Irish green but who cares??? I won!!
Rant-n-Rave
Rant: Portland, Maine now offering oral contraceptives to 8th grade students. Students need parent's permission to go to the clinic but anything done there after that is confidential.
Rave! If we are raising children after God's own heart, it just will not matter anyway. That is why God's Word rings so true when it says that it is "foolishness to the world". They don't get it. They won't get it. Many are not even supposed to get it. But we do. Abstinence can work if children are raised in sheparding homes where parents value their kids above money. Do you know I am not worried at all about this and never have been? I am not boasting! Unless I boast in the Lord...this is His doing, not mine!
I urge parents to look further into information about dating, courtship, sheparding and abstinence...delve in NOW and immerse yourself in teaching when the kids are young. Knowing the information now and building on it year after year will build the confidence in you to speak truth to them and to others around you.
Rave! If we are raising children after God's own heart, it just will not matter anyway. That is why God's Word rings so true when it says that it is "foolishness to the world". They don't get it. They won't get it. Many are not even supposed to get it. But we do. Abstinence can work if children are raised in sheparding homes where parents value their kids above money. Do you know I am not worried at all about this and never have been? I am not boasting! Unless I boast in the Lord...this is His doing, not mine!
I urge parents to look further into information about dating, courtship, sheparding and abstinence...delve in NOW and immerse yourself in teaching when the kids are young. Knowing the information now and building on it year after year will build the confidence in you to speak truth to them and to others around you.
You did WHAT???
Well ladies, I have just sent out my blog address to a few more people...pray! I have kept it quiet for pretty long now and I pray that it blesses them. Just wanted them to know that most of my posts are NOT as long as the one before this. (blog etiquette 101, no long boring posts!) and that I will likely address most posts to my core group of friends here with "ladies"...
Why do I suddenly get the feeling...what have I done? Lol
Also- If any of YOU have a blog, I'd love to glimpse into your everyday as well!
Why do I suddenly get the feeling...what have I done? Lol
Also- If any of YOU have a blog, I'd love to glimpse into your everyday as well!
Keepers at Home Part Eight: Sheparding
Wait- let me get some Joe... Ok, I'm back.
What Sheparding means in our home is vital to training up the kids...today, parents of the world give, give, give but don't instill, instill, instill. We all love our kids. We all want what's best for them. But how many of us are willing to make the tough choices for them? What's easier for us is not always what's best for them. Raising the kids to believe in such non-mainstream Christianity is not just a list of do's and don'ts but a life of whys and becauses.
You cannot tell a child "don't touch the stove" over and over again without the temptation to touch it sneaking in. Instead, what do we do? We teach them about what "hot" is and how it can hurt...They KNOW what hot is by other examples of hot (hopefully not bad ones like when L decided to grab a light bulb after a lamp was turned off when she was four to see if it was still "hot". It was. ) So when they have been told don't touch AND ALSO what hot means, then temptation is gone....do you ever see a child walking around obviously thinking, "Man, I just WISH I could touch that hot stove..." No you don't, because you have not just said NO, you have instilled WHY. That is sheparding.
That was an example of sheparding their behavior. They are less likely to forget a rule if they know the reason behind it. They will be less likely to run after a ball in the road if they know a mac truck is potentially on the move...that we could all see sin so simply! Like a mac truck on the move...ready to run-us-down.
"But the ball, the ball" we cry! It looks so tempting rolling away from us....rolling, rolling...KABLAMMO! (Hopefully that was the sound of the truck smashing the rolling ball of temptation and not us in our sin chasing after it) Lol
It is the same way with sheparding their hearts.
We do not just say follow God and expect them to, we teach them the word daily, moment by moment, when we lie down and when we get up and when we walk by the way...we do don't we?
If not, we better.
See Deuteronomy 6:6-8 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
We don't just teach them that they can't date, we teach them why. The why makes perfect sense...they should have such a value on themselves from God's perspective, but it is not something imparted with ease...it takes every moment training, talking, working-it-out.
All of the "stuff" we really want them to do: keep their virginity, marry evenly yoked, stay respectful and obedient, follow the Lord CLOSELY...is not just in a 15 minute bible reading but in an every day working in of the Word and Godly living in our OWN lives as well...
Oh yes my friends, it is true. More Truth is caught then taught...at least for now...so RAIN DOWN Truth upon them in loving torrents! and if you are doing something that offends, CUT IT OFF.
So we don't just teach them "no", i.e. "the law" (which the bible says BRINGS FORTH sin) but we teach no and then FILL UP with Truth. There is a bible story of a man possessed with a demon and is cleansed but does "fill back up" with God's Truth, so seven more move in... yikes. If we just "clean the spiritual house" of our kids but don't fill back up with the meat of God's truth then we risk an even more dangerous potential.
Please, in school, do not make bible time a curriculum to get done. Don't read and answer questions, fill out worksheets or do bible word searches. Don't "devotional" your child straight into the arms of the world. Now, those things aren't bad in and of themselves...but to think that is "writing the word on their heart" is making a mockery of the Word. I'll try not to get preachy here but try to hear my heart.
Get some cocoa, light a candle, invite the holy spirit, get comfy and let the Lord lead. Do whatever it is your family likes to make it special, exciting, LIFE FILLED. Bible study is bar none, the most absolute favorite part of our day. It is when we are at our most intimate...we discuss everything that's going on in relation to the Word...Do not let it become drudgery. Set the scene...it is God's Word after all. Make bible time with your kids something they WILL NEVER forget. (that does not mean bible drills until they cry, people) but LOVE the Word. TALK about what it means and how it applies.
Case in point: My kids have seen LITTLE of the New Testament. (Some yes, but not nearly as much as the Old) We study study study the old and how it applies to life today. YES, the OT applies to life today!...every passage, every line has relevance and it too is also the living breathing word of God!!! By the time we make it to the NT, they will be ripe with anticipation and I dare say most accepting of that amazing truth that most of us all feasted on first in our walks...Ok, before I soap box on that one I shall move on... My point is that the fruit is THERE without even the NT because we talk about it-talk about it-talk about it. Apply it-apply it-apply it. We think about it, discuss it, use it, discipline with it, consume it, INHALE it.
Remember the story of the woman with the issue of blood? She just wanted to touch the hem of His garment. She knew His power. So do we. Reach for merely the hem and His power will overtake your life and the life of your kids! Glory to God!
You will knock out 99.9% of the chances of them going wrong if you shepard their heart. WORK not to break fellowship with them, restore it when you inevitably do...and do the tough stuff people. Discipline those kids....please. Lol
What Sheparding means in our home is vital to training up the kids...today, parents of the world give, give, give but don't instill, instill, instill. We all love our kids. We all want what's best for them. But how many of us are willing to make the tough choices for them? What's easier for us is not always what's best for them. Raising the kids to believe in such non-mainstream Christianity is not just a list of do's and don'ts but a life of whys and becauses.
You cannot tell a child "don't touch the stove" over and over again without the temptation to touch it sneaking in. Instead, what do we do? We teach them about what "hot" is and how it can hurt...They KNOW what hot is by other examples of hot (hopefully not bad ones like when L decided to grab a light bulb after a lamp was turned off when she was four to see if it was still "hot". It was. ) So when they have been told don't touch AND ALSO what hot means, then temptation is gone....do you ever see a child walking around obviously thinking, "Man, I just WISH I could touch that hot stove..." No you don't, because you have not just said NO, you have instilled WHY. That is sheparding.
That was an example of sheparding their behavior. They are less likely to forget a rule if they know the reason behind it. They will be less likely to run after a ball in the road if they know a mac truck is potentially on the move...that we could all see sin so simply! Like a mac truck on the move...ready to run-us-down.
"But the ball, the ball" we cry! It looks so tempting rolling away from us....rolling, rolling...KABLAMMO! (Hopefully that was the sound of the truck smashing the rolling ball of temptation and not us in our sin chasing after it) Lol
It is the same way with sheparding their hearts.
We do not just say follow God and expect them to, we teach them the word daily, moment by moment, when we lie down and when we get up and when we walk by the way...we do don't we?
If not, we better.
See Deuteronomy 6:6-8 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
We don't just teach them that they can't date, we teach them why. The why makes perfect sense...they should have such a value on themselves from God's perspective, but it is not something imparted with ease...it takes every moment training, talking, working-it-out.
All of the "stuff" we really want them to do: keep their virginity, marry evenly yoked, stay respectful and obedient, follow the Lord CLOSELY...is not just in a 15 minute bible reading but in an every day working in of the Word and Godly living in our OWN lives as well...
Oh yes my friends, it is true. More Truth is caught then taught...at least for now...so RAIN DOWN Truth upon them in loving torrents! and if you are doing something that offends, CUT IT OFF.
So we don't just teach them "no", i.e. "the law" (which the bible says BRINGS FORTH sin) but we teach no and then FILL UP with Truth. There is a bible story of a man possessed with a demon and is cleansed but does "fill back up" with God's Truth, so seven more move in... yikes. If we just "clean the spiritual house" of our kids but don't fill back up with the meat of God's truth then we risk an even more dangerous potential.
Please, in school, do not make bible time a curriculum to get done. Don't read and answer questions, fill out worksheets or do bible word searches. Don't "devotional" your child straight into the arms of the world. Now, those things aren't bad in and of themselves...but to think that is "writing the word on their heart" is making a mockery of the Word. I'll try not to get preachy here but try to hear my heart.
Get some cocoa, light a candle, invite the holy spirit, get comfy and let the Lord lead. Do whatever it is your family likes to make it special, exciting, LIFE FILLED. Bible study is bar none, the most absolute favorite part of our day. It is when we are at our most intimate...we discuss everything that's going on in relation to the Word...Do not let it become drudgery. Set the scene...it is God's Word after all. Make bible time with your kids something they WILL NEVER forget. (that does not mean bible drills until they cry, people) but LOVE the Word. TALK about what it means and how it applies.
Case in point: My kids have seen LITTLE of the New Testament. (Some yes, but not nearly as much as the Old) We study study study the old and how it applies to life today. YES, the OT applies to life today!...every passage, every line has relevance and it too is also the living breathing word of God!!! By the time we make it to the NT, they will be ripe with anticipation and I dare say most accepting of that amazing truth that most of us all feasted on first in our walks...Ok, before I soap box on that one I shall move on... My point is that the fruit is THERE without even the NT because we talk about it-talk about it-talk about it. Apply it-apply it-apply it. We think about it, discuss it, use it, discipline with it, consume it, INHALE it.
Remember the story of the woman with the issue of blood? She just wanted to touch the hem of His garment. She knew His power. So do we. Reach for merely the hem and His power will overtake your life and the life of your kids! Glory to God!
You will knock out 99.9% of the chances of them going wrong if you shepard their heart. WORK not to break fellowship with them, restore it when you inevitably do...and do the tough stuff people. Discipline those kids....please. Lol
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Stream of thought...
Been thinking lately about the kid's experiences...how they will view their life when they are older. I have always wanted them to look back at their childhood with fond memories, something I was not fortunate enough to have.
That's where my term "If school's not fun, school is done" came from.
There will be enough tears in life and enough things that have to get done whether you like it or not, so it certainly will not be on MY watch doing multiplication tables for heaven's sake. Unfortunately they are so blessed with a Mom that has a temper and a quick tongue. Lol But on the other hand, I have the Lord with me, which my parents did not have, so I am also quick to apologize, have taught forgiveness and am constantly evaluating myself and allowing the Lord to improve me. I keep their emotional bank accounts full so when I make the occasional withdrawl, it doesn't leave them in the negative.
Each moment in time is so important and so relevant (or can be...or SHOULD be) regardless of the smallness of it. It is an easy and natural thing to accomplish if we choose to walk by the spirit, much more difficult if we are empowered by the strength of self.
We CHOOSE what and who we want to be and the pain of those choices molds us into the person we become. My choosing myself out of my past and into my future with God has changed my kid's experiences. Often painful for me, occasionally painful for them, lol... it most definitely will result in a treasure trove of good, loving and beautiful experiences instead of historical ones...
That's where my term "If school's not fun, school is done" came from.
There will be enough tears in life and enough things that have to get done whether you like it or not, so it certainly will not be on MY watch doing multiplication tables for heaven's sake. Unfortunately they are so blessed with a Mom that has a temper and a quick tongue. Lol But on the other hand, I have the Lord with me, which my parents did not have, so I am also quick to apologize, have taught forgiveness and am constantly evaluating myself and allowing the Lord to improve me. I keep their emotional bank accounts full so when I make the occasional withdrawl, it doesn't leave them in the negative.
Each moment in time is so important and so relevant (or can be...or SHOULD be) regardless of the smallness of it. It is an easy and natural thing to accomplish if we choose to walk by the spirit, much more difficult if we are empowered by the strength of self.
We CHOOSE what and who we want to be and the pain of those choices molds us into the person we become. My choosing myself out of my past and into my future with God has changed my kid's experiences. Often painful for me, occasionally painful for them, lol... it most definitely will result in a treasure trove of good, loving and beautiful experiences instead of historical ones...
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Love affair with little man...
Well, I have had a crush of sorts on my friend's little boy for some time now. I just haven't had as much time as I'd like with her or her sweet kids, but the other day I got a little more time with her little arrows. I have decided that this kid is the boy I never had. He is all sweet and totally a challenge to win over. Perhaps my inclination to have a bent for the challenging in the male department makes me all the more succeptible to his inevitable charm. Actually, he wasn't that hard for me to win over...And like all good love affairs, I never see the "bad" side of him which his obviously crazy mom "claims" exists. Kind of like the Bermuda Triangle... you hear about it, read about it, but when you go there...calm waters.
But anyway, I like him and he likes me. Or so I like to think.
And also like any good love affair, one person THINKS the other actually truly likes them. Lol I'm afraid he's got me hooked with his little self! (a southern term)
RAVE
Ok, So I shall take the advice of my totally awesome SIL Crystal, and move on to raving instead of ranting!
Had a totally awesome time yesterday sewing with M. She made a beautiful blouse (pretty shee-shee if I do say so myself M!) and worked on her quilt while I made mistake after mistake on mine. Lol But we got a lot done and I am SO thankful!!!!
I feel she (ok, brace yourself for the gush M) is helping me become the woman I always wanted to be!!! At least in terms of being skilled at many of the fine arts of homemaking. I love that we (and so many of us here in the group: HSC, Fearless, New Z, Lisa) share not just recipes but FOOD, not just sewing instruction but TIME sewing, not just fellowship but FRIENDSHIP.
I love being able to walk through the young years of sweet Kate with a woman who KNOWS what being a child should be all about. (Man M, you should really tell your doll story on your blog) and how beautiful childhood can be.
We were talking today about how Kate is a blank slate and how incredibly wonderful and fun it is to have her and be able to do things differently with her. We talked about how though I do not expect to see a different result with her as I am happy how I am raising the others (in practical terms...) I can expect her to have different experiences than the others. More....HOMESCHOOLY ones!!! And that my sisters, is too sweet for words....
Had a totally awesome time yesterday sewing with M. She made a beautiful blouse (pretty shee-shee if I do say so myself M!) and worked on her quilt while I made mistake after mistake on mine. Lol But we got a lot done and I am SO thankful!!!!
I feel she (ok, brace yourself for the gush M) is helping me become the woman I always wanted to be!!! At least in terms of being skilled at many of the fine arts of homemaking. I love that we (and so many of us here in the group: HSC, Fearless, New Z, Lisa) share not just recipes but FOOD, not just sewing instruction but TIME sewing, not just fellowship but FRIENDSHIP.
I love being able to walk through the young years of sweet Kate with a woman who KNOWS what being a child should be all about. (Man M, you should really tell your doll story on your blog) and how beautiful childhood can be.
We were talking today about how Kate is a blank slate and how incredibly wonderful and fun it is to have her and be able to do things differently with her. We talked about how though I do not expect to see a different result with her as I am happy how I am raising the others (in practical terms...) I can expect her to have different experiences than the others. More....HOMESCHOOLY ones!!! And that my sisters, is too sweet for words....
Rant
Well, I am trying to maintain my sanity. It seems that the Lord has decided to push me into a level of patience that I never knew existed. I have been on the giving or receiving end of every situation imaginable. (ok, not every but everything is relative, right?)
Nosiness.
Gossip.
Fair weather friends.
Irritability
Confrontation
Disobedience
Discipline
Heartache
Heartbreak
Misunderstandings...
ahhh, the stuff of life.
I have been having an ongoing conversation with a friend about "being careful" with each other as Christians...careful about what we say, do, how we act...etc. I thought it ridiculous at first and somewhat exasperating...but I must say had I been a little more careful of myself these past few days I could have saved myself from some amount of trouble...
Had I watched my tongue more carefully.....I would not have made a Mom mad at the park...
Had I watched who I shared information with....it would not have been repeated...
Had I been more diligent in disciplining...I would not have be suffering the consequences...
Had I thought twice about an email....I would not have sent it...Lol (who hasn't suffered from this one???)
Had I had a brain AT ALL...I would just pack up and move back home TODAY.
But then I would have to leave M so forget that.
And I don't care if NOBODY likes it, so there.
And I suppose I will soon have to say....if I only didn't write that blog...
Nosiness.
Gossip.
Fair weather friends.
Irritability
Confrontation
Disobedience
Discipline
Heartache
Heartbreak
Misunderstandings...
ahhh, the stuff of life.
I have been having an ongoing conversation with a friend about "being careful" with each other as Christians...careful about what we say, do, how we act...etc. I thought it ridiculous at first and somewhat exasperating...but I must say had I been a little more careful of myself these past few days I could have saved myself from some amount of trouble...
Had I watched my tongue more carefully.....I would not have made a Mom mad at the park...
Had I watched who I shared information with....it would not have been repeated...
Had I been more diligent in disciplining...I would not have be suffering the consequences...
Had I thought twice about an email....I would not have sent it...Lol (who hasn't suffered from this one???)
Had I had a brain AT ALL...I would just pack up and move back home TODAY.
But then I would have to leave M so forget that.
And I don't care if NOBODY likes it, so there.
And I suppose I will soon have to say....if I only didn't write that blog...
Friday, October 12, 2007
Romans
In personal bible time this morning I clung on to this passage and so thought I'd share....
Romans 12:9-21
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[b]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[c] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[b]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[c] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Heehee
My kids and I are having movie time today when the baby naps. It seems the only time they get to watch movies anymore is on a sewing day which they take full advantage of...lol
Anyway, we are going to have lunch during movie time and I heard them talking about chicken nuggets to which I replied:
"NO ladies. We are keepers at HOME not keepers at Chick-Fil-A!!!!!"
Anyway, we are going to have lunch during movie time and I heard them talking about chicken nuggets to which I replied:
"NO ladies. We are keepers at HOME not keepers at Chick-Fil-A!!!!!"
Keepers at Home Part Seven: Keep Your Home!
I have been hearing lots of people say lately their house is a mess because...
I'm too busy
I'm not good at housekeeping
I'm just not that kind of person
or, my all time favorite
The kids come first (also known as: school comes first, dh has a weird schedule so HE comes first, church comes first, etc. etc.)
Now anyone who knows me at all knows I do not keep a perfect house. Nor even a close to perfect house. It can be messy. It can be dirty. But I am always TRYING. Trying to do it and do it better. I try because I KNOW scripturally I am called to keep my home. I know that it blesses my (and ANY ) husband if the house is clean, even if he thinks (or worse, if you THINK he thinks) that it is ok the way it is. Ha! They prefer it clean, organized and picked up ladies, even if they have never had the choice.
Now some of you who have not seen my house and don't know me, trust me when I say, the other girls here know I have no room to judge here so please don't think I am. I am NOT. This is all I am saying:
If you are not keeping house just admit it and DO NOT hide behind the excuse of, well, see above. GET OUT of denial and that is the first step toward improvement. (healing actually, from wrong, or lack of, proper training as women) A friend once spoke some serious truth into my life when she spoke about "spending our husband's time" (see blog: http://clunnlovelessons.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-will-i-spend-it.html) and I see it also applies here. HE has purchased this home for us and if I am not well caring for it and the things in it, I am also not spending his life properly. I am also not showing respect for what God through my husband, has given me.
More aptly put, I am not being a good steward.
Great, now I can't blog anymore, I have to go do something constructive.
Does making scones count? Lol
Having come from a place where you sometimes would not be invited in when you knocked on my door, I have reformed my thinking in the area of housekeeping. Christian women, where do you think that term came from: housekeeping- Keeping house- Keeper of the home....ever connect those terms?
Bless your home first. Keep home. Be the master of your domain so to speak. It is the charge the Lord has given you..you are the MANAGER of your home. You have, by mere gender, been scripturally given a position of authority of your home. Do you control it or does it control you?
Anyone feeling financial pressure these days and has any kind of heart, knows the difficulty our husband's are going through to provide...and the charge we have can be as difficult sometimes too...kids, house, food, money...it is a lot! But if God has GIVEN us that position, then He has EQUIPPED us for it as well.
I need to try harder too...progress not perfection!!! Let's make some progress today! It's never going to be perfect but we all know it can probably be a LOT better. Every time I make progress I see more that needs doing....used to drive me crazy. Now I realize it is just like our walk with God, he refines and moves on, refines and moves on...that is what we have to do too! Refine one area and move on, refine one area and move on...always checking in on those areas (as He does!) to be sure we haven't lost ground. It takes time! The Christian walk is a journey of progress and so is keeping your home. Endeavor to enjoy, rejoice, splendor! in the position you have been given.
I'm too busy
I'm not good at housekeeping
I'm just not that kind of person
or, my all time favorite
The kids come first (also known as: school comes first, dh has a weird schedule so HE comes first, church comes first, etc. etc.)
Now anyone who knows me at all knows I do not keep a perfect house. Nor even a close to perfect house. It can be messy. It can be dirty. But I am always TRYING. Trying to do it and do it better. I try because I KNOW scripturally I am called to keep my home. I know that it blesses my (and ANY ) husband if the house is clean, even if he thinks (or worse, if you THINK he thinks) that it is ok the way it is. Ha! They prefer it clean, organized and picked up ladies, even if they have never had the choice.
Now some of you who have not seen my house and don't know me, trust me when I say, the other girls here know I have no room to judge here so please don't think I am. I am NOT. This is all I am saying:
If you are not keeping house just admit it and DO NOT hide behind the excuse of, well, see above. GET OUT of denial and that is the first step toward improvement. (healing actually, from wrong, or lack of, proper training as women) A friend once spoke some serious truth into my life when she spoke about "spending our husband's time" (see blog: http://clunnlovelessons.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-will-i-spend-it.html) and I see it also applies here. HE has purchased this home for us and if I am not well caring for it and the things in it, I am also not spending his life properly. I am also not showing respect for what God through my husband, has given me.
More aptly put, I am not being a good steward.
Great, now I can't blog anymore, I have to go do something constructive.
Does making scones count? Lol
Having come from a place where you sometimes would not be invited in when you knocked on my door, I have reformed my thinking in the area of housekeeping. Christian women, where do you think that term came from: housekeeping- Keeping house- Keeper of the home....ever connect those terms?
Bless your home first. Keep home. Be the master of your domain so to speak. It is the charge the Lord has given you..you are the MANAGER of your home. You have, by mere gender, been scripturally given a position of authority of your home. Do you control it or does it control you?
Anyone feeling financial pressure these days and has any kind of heart, knows the difficulty our husband's are going through to provide...and the charge we have can be as difficult sometimes too...kids, house, food, money...it is a lot! But if God has GIVEN us that position, then He has EQUIPPED us for it as well.
I need to try harder too...progress not perfection!!! Let's make some progress today! It's never going to be perfect but we all know it can probably be a LOT better. Every time I make progress I see more that needs doing....used to drive me crazy. Now I realize it is just like our walk with God, he refines and moves on, refines and moves on...that is what we have to do too! Refine one area and move on, refine one area and move on...always checking in on those areas (as He does!) to be sure we haven't lost ground. It takes time! The Christian walk is a journey of progress and so is keeping your home. Endeavor to enjoy, rejoice, splendor! in the position you have been given.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Arrrgghhhh! Not the dreaded SCONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just when you thought it was safe to eat baked goods again...the scones return in an all out success story in the form of PUMPKIN scones. Varied recipe, added about a third cup p. to mix, some cinnamon and I lightened up on the sour cream...still a very sticky dough but didn't cave and add more flour and a good thing too because they were perfect. I cut out little circles and added a dollop of pumpkin (no added sweetener M) and then made these muffins....WOW. 1/2 fill with the dough, add a generous amount of pumpkin and top with more dough...really a winner. You can't really see in the pics, but the muffins are just stuffed with pumpkin. The combination of the scone and pumpkin are to die for. Needed ginger terribly but didn't have any! Where'd my ginger go?? Anyway, I can see these will be worth making again and I see a pumpkin pancake in the future for the kids as well...
HSC, I know you said muffins were better but I am going to have to get you a warm basket of these and see if you change your mind...
HSC, I know you said muffins were better but I am going to have to get you a warm basket of these and see if you change your mind...
A big HELLO to Crystal!
Hey ladies, if you see a comment from a "Crystal", that is my incredibly intelligent, gorgeous and hilarious SIL from TN. She is FINALLY commenting after enough harassing. Ya'll would love her. She will likely mock all I do or say (but secretly want to do/say it herself...well, mostly anyway) You will see her amazing heart in small comments and I just hope you all get a chance to welcome her. Encourage her! I believe she is a homeschooler in the making. (though she will adamantly deny it!)
I love you Crys!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
It takes a village to get me....
THINKING....about how many of you bless my life everyday! (whadja think I was gonna say?)
For those of you that know anything at all about what went on today, suffice to say,
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!! ;)
Thanks to everyone "involved" in helping make my day...fruitful...
Ok, I could go on forever with those but in the afterglow of the days events I figure enuf's enuf!
The whole story is good and so funny and SO bloggable but somehow just not one I should write for all public to see...
For those of you that know anything at all about what went on today, suffice to say,
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!! ;)
Thanks to everyone "involved" in helping make my day...fruitful...
Ok, I could go on forever with those but in the afterglow of the days events I figure enuf's enuf!
The whole story is good and so funny and SO bloggable but somehow just not one I should write for all public to see...
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Sunday's doin's
Whew, what a day! Up early to make food for church (huge Shepard's Pie..SO Baptist! Lol) Chocolate Chip Pecan Squares and of course since the chocolate chips were out, I went ahead and made Choc Chip pancakes for the kids before church. That's a whole lotta cooking before 9 am! I have Pinto Beans with Garlic fried Pork Chops simmering on the stove and am trying to decide between tortillas or cornbread.
It's so good to have the Dad home!!! We bought Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, so later it will be yummy dinner and a movie. Church was wonderful and it was so good to see everyone.. I keep checking blogs but no one is around today...hope everyone had a Christ filled day and great family time!
Can't wait to hear how everyone's day went..
It's so good to have the Dad home!!! We bought Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, so later it will be yummy dinner and a movie. Church was wonderful and it was so good to see everyone.. I keep checking blogs but no one is around today...hope everyone had a Christ filled day and great family time!
Can't wait to hear how everyone's day went..
In a Girl's House...
This is how Darth Vader's mask looks in the HOUSE OF GIRLS!
Little Darth Vader on the Prarie...
Little Darth Vader on the Prarie...
Frau Mulan Vader
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Soapin' Up
A big thanks to M for our soap class....after a faulty start with a cancellation of hosting location...we recover amazingly and git er' done with only one casualty! (We missed you Lisa G!) What a neat class and easier than we all thought! A few of us may go on to soap making but mostly we all had fun! (as usual!)
You know, along with all the cool, educational stuff we do, I really love the conversations that ensue...it always proves to be fruitful...
Today I heard talk of modest dressing, controversial television shows and of course, all things children!
Regardless of what we are doing, it proves out again and again in this group, that the fellowship becomes the real teaching time of all...
I had a great time ladies, thank you!
You know, along with all the cool, educational stuff we do, I really love the conversations that ensue...it always proves to be fruitful...
Today I heard talk of modest dressing, controversial television shows and of course, all things children!
Regardless of what we are doing, it proves out again and again in this group, that the fellowship becomes the real teaching time of all...
I had a great time ladies, thank you!
We're ALL on our soap box!!
And we begin...
"The molecular blah, blah, blah...
is...
dangerous!" Wear your face mask!
Careful....
We got this!
Got soap?
This smells funny...
Really? I liiiiiike it!
I won't lye...this stuff is dangerous!
Gorgeous but
lye-ing....
Up and coming...
Fearless and smiling.
Time out for a book from second Mom...
Food, fellowship and fun while the soap cools? gels? cures? What the heck is it doing anyway? Oh well, we all can't wait to try it!!!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Keepers at Home Part 6: The Good is the Enemy of the Excellent
Most people who know me have heard me say this phrase more than once. And it is still SO true. My eldest daughter's piano instructor's Mom says it this way to her grown kids..."The hardest choices in your life won't be between the good and the bad but instead between the better and the best"...well said! And having said that, the next post in the Keeper's at Home Series is about us! A situation in our own home too good not to share...
It still reverberates the "coming home/staying home" idea...We brought our daughter "home" this past week from a Mom's helper job outside the home. I think she did it for about 5-6 weeks. It was great. She was of course, wonderful at it. It did not disrupt our schedule at the house. And it greatly helped the Mom.
But---
Something wasn't right. To this moment I cannot quite put my finger on it...and I want to be careful to say it accurately as well, if that can be done with something you can't quite put your finger on! Whatever working outside the home does to a young woman was happening on a minuscule level with S. Empowerment maybe? Now, I believe in strong, capable women...I AM one. But this was different. It seemed that being in another family was blurring lines of loyalty somehow...no matter HOW you raise them...extended time with other people will have an influence over them. It wasn't a negative influence even. I would not let her be in a home whose family wasn't like-minded but still...though it was good...it wasn't the BEST.
There are a LOT of facets in the situation but here are just a few to chew on...
We thought it would be good child training for her but found that she was already well trained in child training and so the only thing left was her watching the differences in how how the two families did things...and what was she to do with that or think about that?
The point of that being ONLY this; that she did not need further child training...just continued practice and she doesn't need other children to do that with, she has her own sibs for that...
Also we were beginning to get into the mode of doing it and getting used to the effect of it not being the absolute best thing for our own family...We didn't want to leave the family without the help they thought they needed but to the point of it not being the best thing for us and us just living with it.
And mostly (and yet the hardest to express still) is that it further led us into seeing a completely separate truth being somewhat modeled and therefore affirmed..
Our girls are being raised in courtship, not dating...and we often talk about the danger of "giving a piece of your heart" before you are married and we have seen the trouble that has caused with other people, friends, etc. in boyfriend/girlfriend or dating relationships...So she began to really love this little boy like a little brother and it was becoming increasingly hard for her to separate what was best for her from the fact that she had given her heart over to this little guy. She was going to MISS him and was potentially making choices based on her attachment to him as opposed to what was best for her...(she has great love for children) WOW! Her loyalty was switching a bit to HIM and that kind of loyalty does not belong there, it belongs at home awaiting her own children. She recognized this right off and told me. She could see that soon it would just be too hard to say no anymore and still to continue to see clearly the path that God had set before her...she and we were already getting a little de-sensitized to the fact that her being gone was not the best thing and we were just getting used to it and living with it when it was NOT God's best...does that make sense? Man, how much do we as adults do that?? Condition ourselves to what is NOT God's best! Not very bright really, but human. We must listen to the still, small voice or we will cease being able to hear it.
It is very clear to us that the choices we make all the time will have a very lasting effect on our world view and on our discernment of God's voice in our lives...
It was good to see the training about why they will not date also applying to giving one's loyalty, even in part, to another family in this particular situation. It was a good experience and affirmation of how we are training them though it never had the "relief" attached to stopping- the way it would with a job you highly disliked. It was bittersweet...a little broken hearted feeling, all the way around. (more affirmation) I can't imagine if it had gone on for a year or more and then a split had to happen. (That is another whole issue I won't talk about here...the potential effect on the child)
With choices between the good and the excellent, the choice is often one made with some second guessing, some hindsight, some un-surety, but you can believe, this is the stuff of growth to maturity. Standing, in faith, to the end, for the excellent.
Today, NOW, choose the excellent for you and your family.
Blessings my friends,
Steph
It still reverberates the "coming home/staying home" idea...We brought our daughter "home" this past week from a Mom's helper job outside the home. I think she did it for about 5-6 weeks. It was great. She was of course, wonderful at it. It did not disrupt our schedule at the house. And it greatly helped the Mom.
But---
Something wasn't right. To this moment I cannot quite put my finger on it...and I want to be careful to say it accurately as well, if that can be done with something you can't quite put your finger on! Whatever working outside the home does to a young woman was happening on a minuscule level with S. Empowerment maybe? Now, I believe in strong, capable women...I AM one. But this was different. It seemed that being in another family was blurring lines of loyalty somehow...no matter HOW you raise them...extended time with other people will have an influence over them. It wasn't a negative influence even. I would not let her be in a home whose family wasn't like-minded but still...though it was good...it wasn't the BEST.
There are a LOT of facets in the situation but here are just a few to chew on...
We thought it would be good child training for her but found that she was already well trained in child training and so the only thing left was her watching the differences in how how the two families did things...and what was she to do with that or think about that?
The point of that being ONLY this; that she did not need further child training...just continued practice and she doesn't need other children to do that with, she has her own sibs for that...
Also we were beginning to get into the mode of doing it and getting used to the effect of it not being the absolute best thing for our own family...We didn't want to leave the family without the help they thought they needed but to the point of it not being the best thing for us and us just living with it.
And mostly (and yet the hardest to express still) is that it further led us into seeing a completely separate truth being somewhat modeled and therefore affirmed..
Our girls are being raised in courtship, not dating...and we often talk about the danger of "giving a piece of your heart" before you are married and we have seen the trouble that has caused with other people, friends, etc. in boyfriend/girlfriend or dating relationships...So she began to really love this little boy like a little brother and it was becoming increasingly hard for her to separate what was best for her from the fact that she had given her heart over to this little guy. She was going to MISS him and was potentially making choices based on her attachment to him as opposed to what was best for her...(she has great love for children) WOW! Her loyalty was switching a bit to HIM and that kind of loyalty does not belong there, it belongs at home awaiting her own children. She recognized this right off and told me. She could see that soon it would just be too hard to say no anymore and still to continue to see clearly the path that God had set before her...she and we were already getting a little de-sensitized to the fact that her being gone was not the best thing and we were just getting used to it and living with it when it was NOT God's best...does that make sense? Man, how much do we as adults do that?? Condition ourselves to what is NOT God's best! Not very bright really, but human. We must listen to the still, small voice or we will cease being able to hear it.
It is very clear to us that the choices we make all the time will have a very lasting effect on our world view and on our discernment of God's voice in our lives...
It was good to see the training about why they will not date also applying to giving one's loyalty, even in part, to another family in this particular situation. It was a good experience and affirmation of how we are training them though it never had the "relief" attached to stopping- the way it would with a job you highly disliked. It was bittersweet...a little broken hearted feeling, all the way around. (more affirmation) I can't imagine if it had gone on for a year or more and then a split had to happen. (That is another whole issue I won't talk about here...the potential effect on the child)
With choices between the good and the excellent, the choice is often one made with some second guessing, some hindsight, some un-surety, but you can believe, this is the stuff of growth to maturity. Standing, in faith, to the end, for the excellent.
Today, NOW, choose the excellent for you and your family.
Blessings my friends,
Steph
Sconed-Out
Ok, this is the last you'll hear of my scones people. Here is the recipe...I think it is a great basic recipe. From the past you know I have varied it with adding blueberries, apple, cinn&raisin, and lastly garlic and cheese. ANd in defense of the garlic and cheese, they were really great I think....needed a bit more cheese (about a cup) but really is good with soup (substitute cup of sugar with tbls sugar) But, I hope to see some pics of your scones soon on your blog. Forget waiting til' after Christmas...the recipe is all yours! I am moving on to Focacia!!!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar (I like raw in mine)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional!)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 egg
DIRECTIONS
In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and baking soda, and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut in the butter. Stir the sour cream mixture and egg into the flour mixture until just moistened. Mix in anything extra...Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll or pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick round. Cut into 12 wedges, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom
INGREDIENTS
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar (I like raw in mine)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional!)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 egg
DIRECTIONS
In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and baking soda, and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut in the butter. Stir the sour cream mixture and egg into the flour mixture until just moistened. Mix in anything extra...Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll or pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick round. Cut into 12 wedges, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Surprise Focacia Visit!
Okay, so I was totally psyched about my dinner...just LOOK at the deliciousness of it... homemade chicken soup, a NEW recipe, cheese scones and then?????
The Focacia bread had to show up...and let me tell you..it is DELISH and WAY better than the scone recipes I am about to post...at least the cheese ones!
Chicken soup...a favorite!
Cheese and Garlic scones, a new recipe
dinner is sure to be good...and then...
AHHHHH,
not the Focacia!! This bread was amazing Homeschool and I am still hoping you will send the recipe b-4 dh gets home...I WILL make this a family recipe and we all cannot stop thinking of the variations...but this one??? To die for! (worse? I heard it was a sprinkle!!!!) You better tell! Bottom line? When DH gets home tomorrow, he is getting the FOCACIA!!! Thank You! Thank You!
The Focacia bread had to show up...and let me tell you..it is DELISH and WAY better than the scone recipes I am about to post...at least the cheese ones!
Chicken soup...a favorite!
Cheese and Garlic scones, a new recipe
dinner is sure to be good...and then...
AHHHHH,not the Focacia!! This bread was amazing Homeschool and I am still hoping you will send the recipe b-4 dh gets home...I WILL make this a family recipe and we all cannot stop thinking of the variations...but this one??? To die for! (worse? I heard it was a sprinkle!!!!) You better tell! Bottom line? When DH gets home tomorrow, he is getting the FOCACIA!!! Thank You! Thank You!
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