First Day of School

It's here, It's here..the first day of school. Don't they look so happy?!?! It's 10 AM and only three meltdowns so far. I must be loosing my mean streak.. LOL

Moments of Joy

I don't know about you, but I often wonder if I'm doing this right. I wonder if anything I try to teach my kids is ever going to amount to anything other than "doing the time", and that's not what I want my children to take away from this schooling experience. Somehow, in the midst of the pity party I was having, my child presented me with an opportunity to see into "the future"...figuratively, of course.

I lost my mother in March. My dad, trying to be helpful, brought me all her sewing things knowing that I would want them when I was ready. Well, I wasn't ready. They have been sitting in a pile in the corner of the living room and I walk past and ignore them daily...until today. One of my girls is wanting to learn to sew and asked if she could have Gramma's machine if I wasn't going to use it. So, we got it out, cleaned it up and made sure it was working. Then she wanted to explore the boxes of treasures as well. Most of it was not worth saving because it had been in storage too long. When we got to the bottom of the box, we found patterns to make Barbie clothes. I couldn't believe my mother had kept them, but I couldn't help smiling. We sat and laughed at how funny the clothes looked (I was a 70's child..) and I told her about how I would sit and look through the scraps pile to pick the material for the clothes. What started out as getting ready for a school subject I wasn't looking forward to, quickly became a time to share old memories and make new ones.

Never underestimate the power of your influence on your child. You never know when what you may think is a small, inconsequential moment of your time will turn into a memory. A memory that brings joy, and remembrance of things you taught, to future generations. Enjoy home schooling your children, you're doing great!

His Grace is Enough

This story was forwarded to me not too long ago. My friend was shocked (with good reason) to read of this man's deception. The more I think about the story, the more it occurs to me that this man is just that, a man. We have all sinned and none of us is worthy of Grace on our own, yet God offers it to us so freely.

I can't presume to say why this man would choose to deceive millions the way he has. Perhaps he thought that producing a "miracle" would inspire someone else to believe. Perhaps he shamelessly had a plan to make money off the pity of others. I can't say. I do know that miracles are possible. My son is one. He was dramatically healed. I do know that not every prayer is answered with a miracle. Or is it? After 25 years of pain my mother went home to be with her savior last March. Is that a miracle? Maybe not the one I was hoping for, but the fact that God loved her so much He saved her soul so she could live with Him eternally sounds pretty miraculous to me.

I don't know what God has in store for this preacher who has so publicly fallen. I do know God loves him very much and is waiting with forgiveness and mercy and grace to wrap him in and hold him close. The same love and grace He offers to me every time I fail. He makes all things beautiful. Every sin I allow Him to cover with that unending grace turns from something ugly, to something He uses for His glory. His Grace is ENOUGH and I thank Him for that.

Abraham Lincoln

I'd like to share a quote that I think kind of sums up our mission as parents..

" A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are don, attend to those things whoch you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depnds on him. He will assume control of your cities, states and nation. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. All your books are going to be judged, praised or condemed by him. The fate of humanity is in his hands" Abraham Lincoln

Now, obviously I don't agree with the last line since I believe all destiny is controlled by God. I do agree with the general thought behind the statement in that if we do not take careful and deliberate care to teach our children we will reap what we sow.

Proverbs 11:18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

Job 4: 8 As I have observed, those who plow evil
and those who sow trouble reap it.

Meet Samson

This is the newest baby at our home. His name is Samson but Mommy calls him Sam

health code violation??

We passed this sign at a closed gas station and we had to stop and take a picture...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't eat any BBQ smoked in a restroom regardless of the fat content...lol (just pretend you're not looking through my dirty windshield)

Happy 4th

The royal offspring posed for the Queen in front of the flag...I'm not sure just where the silliness comes from...lol