An Unexpected School Vacation

So last week the kids got an unexpected break from school.  Four full days off.  Yup, no fall break or special holiday here.  I got sick.  I'm not sure if I had the flu because I never took the test, but I'm pretty sure I had the flu I had a fever for three days and couldn't even get out of the bed for two straight days.

I have boys.  I do not have any cutesy domesticated girls who can cook or take care of mom when mom goes down.   Monday morning, I ran my six miles and just before starting school I started to feel yucky...by 2:30...forget it, homeschooling mama down.  I crawled into the bed, and I didn't get up until the next evening sometime.  And even that was a challenge.

Last week was interesting.  My oldest is only nine.  He stepped right up and made breakfast and lunch for his five and seven year old brothers.  He tried to defuse any tense situations between them, and carried around the iPad so I could "text" him if I needed anything.  He brought me ice packs, Gatorade and saltines.  He even tried to help me out of bed a few times.  I didn't eat for three days, not sure exactly what the kids ate...but the Halloween candy was in tact so they must have found real food.

So this morning, as rain continuously falls outside and it's dreary and pretty cold here in the south, we are about to start school.  Yup.  Every.  Day.  This.  Week.

Just before school this morning I decided to have some 'me time.'   So guess what I did?  I brought the shop vac in from the garage and vacuumed the laundry room, behind the dryer and all the baseboards even the lint trap in the dryer.

Yeah, I'm 35.   That may sound boring and 'over the hill' to some.  But as I was vacuuming my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude.  Really.  I know it may sound a little silly.  But what I began to think of, is here is this 35 year old woman, walking around in my body.  My mind doesn't feel that old, and honestly my body doesn't either most of the time.  But I'm a wife now, for the past eleven years.  And a mom too, for the past nine years.  Those titles may sound daunting to some, boring to others or exciting to a few.  But the truth is, those titles define my life and were given to me by my Lord.

He chose me, not just to be His child and to serve Him, but He picked me out to be my husband's wife.  The one who gets to grow old with him, embrace all his quirks and love him anyway.  That's what I get to do.  He picked me to be the mother to three boys.  Three boys just barely four years apart.  Three intelligent, energetic and challenging boys.

So even in the mundane and seemingly disgusting job of vacuuming the laundry room, I can be grateful for many things.  The health and ability to vacuum, a house to vacuum, a vacuum that works, the ability to homeschool and teach our children how God is in all of life, the husband who supports me even in my craziest endeavors, the boys who although they boys they stepped up last week and did the best they could.  The reflection of a 35 year old woman who enjoys vacuuming looking back at me because life is a gift from God.

We have so many, many things to be thankful for, we often overlook the smallest of details.  Yet, I believe it is there in the smallest of things that we find the most profound provision of our Lord.  He goes after the small, the mundane all the seemingly insignificant areas of our lives and fights for us.  He fights for our hearts and lives to Honor Him.  He doesn't give up, He doesn't let go.  He relentlessly pursues us.  Not because we deserve it or are worthy, but just because that is Who He Is.

I am amazed at our God how He fights for us.  He wages war against the evil one on our behalf, in fact Christ lives to make intercession for us.  Our Savior prays for us.  Really?  I mean here is our Lord seated in Heaven, and praying for us.  For you.  For me.  We do not know what He prays, but we can be assured it is in line with God's will and it will honor God.  We can trust the One who prays, that the prayers are for us.

So, this month has spurred a season of thanks, and my newsfeeds are overflowing with my sweet friends expressing their thankfulness.  I am encouraged every time I log onto a social media site.  All around me, I am reading the thankfulness of others.  I think it is wonderful!!!  Absolutely fantastic to testify to God about how thankful we are.  I love it, but I also fervently believe that thankfulness is a characteristic of a believer, "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Last week,  I needed to ask God to draw the thankfulness out for the mundane. For sure, laying in bed day after day with no strength and three young kids, and my husband was so busy at work he couldn't take time off.  It was just the kids and I.  It's hard to be thankful during tougher times.  But I've seen the Lord work in our lives, if we find one thing to be thankful for and express it, more thankfulness follows.  Sometimes we just need to take that first step. 

How about you?  In this 'season of thanks' are you struggling in your heart to offer thanks for the seemingly mundane?  For the little moments when the Lord powerfully speaks truth into your heart revealing what you need to thank Him for, even if you don't feel like it?

Are you leading your kids in a lifestyle of thankfulness? Are you showing them in God's word that we are to be thankful, it does honor God and we can be thankful no matter how small or insignificant? 

Take that first step, thank God for something small.  All the littles add up and that's what life is made of.  Little details, one by one, filtered through the loving hands of the Almighty, fitted just for each one of us to bring Him glory.

Hunting for Toads

Lately I've been blogging about the new season of motherhood I'm entering.  The toddlers days are gone...perhaps they've been gone longer than I'm willing to admit seeing as my baby is 5.

There are things I will miss about the toddler years for sure.  The pudgy baby cheeks is probably top on the list.  Baby cheeks are simply irresistible to me.  Oh and baby chins.  Something about those baby chins are just breathtaking!!!

There are things I won't miss, like planning an outing and never really knowing how it will go because at any given moment they could break down into a full blown toddler tantrum, and the stress that goes along with that.

But this new season, even though I know there will be challenges,  I'm really embracing the fun stuff.  Like the ability to surprise the kids with field trips!   It's so fun!  On the days when everything clicks and we have extra time it's amazing.  We can load up and go somewhere fun!

Yesterday was one of those days.  School just clicked the boys did what they were supposed to do and I found a local scavenger hunt called Toads on Trade.   

For my local friends check it out, it's fun and free, the website will give you the background story and the printable hints to find all the Toads.  There is a great city close by for a picnic.  Unlike our Epic Corn Maze field trip, we rocked the Toads on Trade, and were able to find all ten!!  Praise God that was a first!

Yup...I'm that Mom!

I am that mom.  You all have seen her, the one with the "Mom's Taxi" bumper sticker on her minivan.  Yup, that's me.  The funny part of it is, I'm not just the taxi, because we homeschool.  So we do a lot at home.  But, I'm a little older now, and so are my kids...which means, I'm in that season of motherhood.  Marking my calendar with their events, not just mine.  Driving them and their friends not just mine.

Our Family Calendar
 

So, yesterday I woke up yesterday and it was Monday morning.

Reading.  Studying.  Running. Clean Kitchen.  Write. 

Homeschool.

Laundry.  Vacuum. Lunch. 

Homeschool some more.

Write some more.

Dinner....ahh...what's for dinner?!?!?!  Cook something random.  Eat.

I gathered a short list for the grocery store, loaded up the car...and as I was driving it hit me about 6:30, "Ahh...I can't wait for 10:00, I'm going to get to watch a new episode of Duck Dynasty."

I ran into the grocery store, to grab a few things along with a snack for my 7 year olds' ballgame on Tuesday.

Ugh, like a ton of bricks...it hit me.  It was still Monday.

Yup, one of those kinds of days.  Where so much was done and happened, by the end of it...I really felt like it has been three days.

I went to bed last night, and it was Monday night.

Even though I felt like three days had passed, in the midst of all that madness, I am blessed in this new season of motherhood. I get to cuddle up with my best friend each night and drift off to sleep listening to him snore.  I get to kiss three little boys, entrusted to my care, goodnight.  Then I get to wake up and do it all over again.  God is good!!

I'm living proof that the older we get the faster time goes.  Oh yesterday was a blessing, and busy and we accomplished much.  I am thankful for it, but I am also thankful that today is Tuesday, and however much activity today holds, I am grateful that I know Who holds today!

Gem Mining

We went Gem Mining today.  Yeah, and for those that know me well, it is a miraculous moment when I willingly spend $18 on two bags of dirt for my kids to 'sift' through to find planted gems and fossils.

This morning I came home from the dentist with a different agenda for our day.  I knew we needed a change of pace after the first two days of this particular week.

Monday was a devastating day, and Tuesday wasn't much better.    On Monday I caught my nine year old in a lie.  I didn't even know what to think.  I mean honestly it was earth shattering to me.  Okay, grant me grace here friend.  I did not grow up in a Christian home, and somewhere in my mind I had romanticized the Christian home to contain perfectly behaved, obedient children who are always loving.   While those characteristics are good and in a godly way should be cultivated. I was failing so desperately to recognize the obvious truth:  my children are clothed in sinful flesh.  They battle it just as I do....they just don't have as much sinful 'baggage' as I do.

I was not recognizing that, even in their youth, and no matter how 'ideal' of a childhood we try to create for them, they are still sinners.  Which means they will sin.

We saturate them in the word, planting gems of truth throughout the everyday moments of their lives.

Wouldn't you know, the Lord has me reading a wonderful book and the chapter I just began Monday evening is about the importance of Christian Community.  The author brings up a wonderful point that he draws out of Hebrews 10:19-31.  "The central lesson of this passage is that we need one another daily....It is a call to community that is intentionally intrusive, Christ-Centered, grace-driven and redemptive." Paul Tripp

The more I read the more the soft, firm voice of the Lord spoke healing to my heart.  Friends, I was angry.  I was outraged.  I trusted my son to be honest and to make wise decisions.  Monday and Tuesday were difficult days.  Tension ruled our home.  It wasn't fun.

Then, this morning in the quietness of our basement on my morning run, I began mulling over my sin.  My anger, my frustration.  My judgment. My unmet and unrealistic expectations.

I'm the adult and yet, I let my emotions get the best of me.  I did not walk away and ask God for grace and mercy to handle the situation.  I immediately began exposing his sin according to the Word.  I wasn't crazy about it, but I was not nice either.

Anyway you look at it, or whatever words I could choose, bottom line...in my anger...I sinned.

And it's all level ground at the Cross.

My anger.  Joseph's lie.   It all took the blood of Calvary to be forgiven.

This morning the Lord spoke to me about our homeschool.  We, our family, are a community.  A small little five person community.  We are absolutely blessed that three of us have trusted in Christ, so we have that hope that He will guide us with His Holy Spirit.

But Grace.  A grace driven relationship (that of parent and child) allows us "to motivate and encourage one another to do what is right.  We minister to one another knowing that while the law is able to reveal sin, only grace can deliver from it!"  Paul Tripp

Then Redemption.  "Redemptive relationships means we recognize change is a process, not a quick leap to sinless perfection.  We have been redeemed, we are being redeemed, and we will be redeemed."  Paul Tripp

Truth Revealed.  God's word, living and active in the hearts and lives of His people.

The Lord showed me, I was freely receiving God's grace to cover my sin, and yet not expecting my children to need it for theirs.  In my overly romanticized Christian Home, it's as if there were no room for grace.  They wouldn't need it, because they know what sin is, so they won't sin.

But God.

He is gracious and merciful and He redeems!

I want to be a mother who leads my children with redemptive purpose.  I want to take the bad, the unpleasant, the sins that so easily entangle us and show my children how to run to Jesus and exchange it all for the truth found in His word.

So this morning, I went to my boys and confessed the anger of my heart to them and my sin and asked for forgiveness.  It's a humbling moment to ask forgiveness from a young child.  But they need to know Mommy isn't perfect....otherwise they will grow up believing someday they will 'arrive' at perfection.  And they won't.  Neither will I.  I don't want to set my kids up for spiritual failure, they (and I) can do that all on their own.

We are limited by our sinful flesh, but set free by a limitless God who pours out grace and mercy beyond any feeble comprehension.

So what did 'hump' day look like at our house?  Well, as the grace of God's forgiveness flooded my heart, I knew I needed to be a conduit today.  So, we did the bare minimum school and hit the local apple farm.   Sometimes you just have to get away, and quietly meditate on the marvelous grace of our God and enjoy these three amazing blessings that God has entrusted to our care while on the earth, with our absolute top priority to be raising boys into men who love Jesus and serve others.

 

As I watched them sift through the mud and pull out those gems, I was convicted to pray that the Lord would bring growth..."I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."  1 Cor. 3:6

An Unlikely Audience

Today our school start time came and went.  Two years ago I would've been seriously annoyed, but God has done a work and today I was thankful the boys were getting the sleep they needed and I had an extra hour to prepare

 

We are studying through various spiritual disciplines and this week is prayer...really fitting considering my day yesterday.  So we started talking through 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Jeremiah 33:3.   The boys began to ask questions and before I know it I was sharing my testimony of coming to Christ with my boys.

Again, with kids, and especially boys you never know how much they actually take in and remember.  

Until this afternoon.   I'm driving them around and my middle one pipes us, "Mommy how did Daddy come to know Jesus as Savior?"

 

LOVE.  IT.   They listened. 

More importantly, God is stirring their precious little hearts with His word.

 

Just two years ago our oldest heard a testimony of a lady in our church coming to Christ.   That evening he asked Christ into his heart.   Sharing your testimony may seem somewhat antiquated.  When I first became a believer, Campus Crusade put a huge emphasis on writing out your testimony and being ready to share it at any given opportunity.  Fast forward eleven years into adulthood and hearing people's testimonies seems to be a lost art.

 

Sometimes in the Christian subculture we get caught up in formality or traditions of men.  It's all to easy to do.  Sharing our testimony at church or with a  women's group might seem more appropriate.  After all you'd "reach" more people.
 

But, after today, I'm seriously convicted about not just sharing my personal testimony with my boys, but having an open and on going dialogue about what The Lord is doing in my life.

Why?  It shows Him real to them.  It shows them the reality of an adult "who can do whatever they want."  Submitting themselves to God, being changed, being used for something and someone more important than themselves.  It's more than reading through the Bible with them, it's more than talking at them, it's more than helping them hide His word in their hearts...it's being willing to use discretion and share what is appropriate at their ages and within the confines of a parent/child relationship...to show Christ active in your own life.

Can I challenge you as the Lord has challenged me?  Have you shared your testimony with your kids?  After all, dear friend, it is their heritage as well.   God didn't put your kids into your care by accident.  He chose you to parent them before they were formed in your womb.  He saved your soul not just for you, but to impact those He has given you.

Following the Call, four years later..

How did we even get here?   I mean I remember the first day of first grade for my oldest and here we are.  Year FOUR.  Day one.

Honestly that's hard to wrap my mind around.  I can't believe  I am starting our fourth year of homeschooling.  I remember year one day one.  The emotions I had on that day were nothing compared what is racing around my head today.

Today I begin a year where I will teach nine subjects at 4th grade level, eight subjects at 2nd grade level, and four or five to a kindergartener.

Overwhelmed may be a slight  understatement.

But, experience has taught me, that my God uses homeschooling in our family's life to refine each of us.  At the end of year one, I wasn't even sure what my oldest had learned...but one thing for certain was....God has worked a great deal of sin out of my life.  The selfishness and 'time-hoarding' tendencies I had, just to name two.

It's all about motivation.

What motivates you?   You see, K5 for my oldest....he attended private school.  Because I didn't want to homeschool him with a 2 year old and infant at home.  Even though God had called me to do it.  I really felt it would be best for him to go to a private Christian school.  My motivation was taking the easy way.  I honestly had no idea how I could handle homeschooling.   That was my problem.  It's not my responsibility to 'handle' it.  It's my responsibility to trust.   Over and over again.


Then, halfway through the year the Lord worked out circumstances, bringing a career change for my husband that took away our ability to pay for private school.  It was clear.  The Lord said "Homeschool, my child" and that was going to be our route no matter what.

I remember even telling my best friend, "If I am not homeschooling in the fall, I am walking in disobedience to the call of God on my life...and I need you to call me on it!"  

I needed accountability.  I needed prayer.  I needed to trust.

"Faithful is HE who calls you, HE will also bring it to pass."  1 Thessalonians 5:24.

Faithfully God was calling me to homeschool, and I am so thankful He did not just change His mind.  He was patient with me, even when I put our oldest in school.  And it was a good school.  He had a great experience and an amazing teacher.  Private or public school just isn't what the Lord has called our family to during this season.

That means, I have to teach.   Not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.  Gratitude to a God, a loving Father, who saw my intense need for a Savior.  Who knew left to myself I would not obey, left to myself would not choose His way...and so He sent Christ, and then didn't stop there, but gave me (and all believers) the gift of the Holy Spirit to allow us to follow Christ, and give us the strength to do the right thing.

So, year four, day one.   It begins.

Following God on a journey He ordained for our family, even before our family walked on day on this earth.

Remember dear friend, it's not the works God is so concerned with, it's the motivation....ask Him for a pure heart (Psalm 51:10) to do what He has called you to do...then trust.  Truly trust that the God of the universe who called you to it, will walk you through it and will bless your soul by transforming you more into the image of Christ, our Savior.

And it's not just homeschooling.  Whatever it is in your life that you feel God calling you to, but you haven't acted on for whatever reason....believe me....take that step...go ahead follow Him.  The lessons you will learn are worth the risks...whatever they may be...God wants to speak powerfully to your heart through His word, and He wants to transform your heart and life for His glory....

Summer School?!?!

So, about two weeks into summer, and I decided my boys both my boys and I will not make it all summer with no routine or schedule.  So after some encouragement in revamping our chore charts, and being very firm with daily reading requirements...I decided we are going to accomplish two things...first we will have family devotions every morning just like we did while in school.  What the boys don't realize is teaching the Bible is my passion so this always took an hour during the school year, and it may end up taking more during the summer! Second, we will have some adventure every day that makes them laugh, learn and appreciate what the Lord has given us!

I do not use a bible curriculum...not yet, I think as they get older I may do something more structured...but what I do it daily as I study in my personal quiet time, I ask the Lord each day before I start reading to teach me great and unsearchable things I do not know (Jer. 33:3) then I write up a lesson for my boys for that day.  Sometimes, as I teach through it I'll notice they need to stay in a specific verse for the week...sometimes just a day.  Whatever their need is...I try to meet it with God's word.

Specifically I was in John 17 this morning and I came to verse 17 and was stuck again.  I really really LOVE this verse!!!  "Sanctify them in truth, your word it truth!"  John 17:17

I could go on and on and on some more about why I love this verse, but mostly because it is a gentle reminder that God's word is powerful, absolute truth, active in our lives and relevant for our needs.

So, I created this short lesson for the boys this morning, I've got an extra boy, one of my precious nephews gets to 'tag along' this morning...my plan is:

1.  Read John 17:17
2.  Discuss what Sanctify means (dedicate to God, cleanse internally, to purify by renewing the soul)
3.  Ask, "How can I as a believer proclaim Christ and His gospel if I am not in the word myself?"
4.  Ask, "What is devotion?"  "Why is devoting time to the study of God's word important?"
5.  Discuss what the Word does (although not exhaustive...this is where I'm pointing them: Sanctifies, encourages, strengthens, and purifies).

Then, we will read through 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (encouragement),   Psalm 10:17 (Strengthen), Titus 2:14 (Purify) and Reread John 17:17 (sanctify).

Then I found a free crossword puzzle maker online and made one for the boys to complete, obviously my 4 year old will need some assistance...but I'm praying this will be fun, engaging and that the Word will accomplish that which He sent it out to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11)!

Here is a copy of the answer sheet...you can print both I just thought the answer sheet showed how cool that tool really is!

Happy Summer All!!!!

Practical Homeschool Project

The boys and I had such a blast in our daily Bible time in school this morning. We started out with Matthew 15:18 which says "but the things that come out of the mouth; come from the heart..."

And then The Lord gave me this idea to make it visual.... I drew a little boy with a big heart and a bible inside of it...then I have him a conversation bubble and we went through the bible finding verses that spoke to us about what will come out of our mouths if we are hiding his word I. Our hearts.

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11


If I had a larger white board I may have drawn three boys and let each one fill in his own bubble quietly and the shared as a group. Or maybe they could do it in their journals to share. However you want to do it, I thought it was a neat way to engage their hearts, hands and minds to get some practical biblical application for daily living!

Quitting just isn't an option

A few days ago I read a wonderful devotion, that had been in my inbox for several days before I actually got a chance to read.   Honestly it was so great because it was exactly what I needed on the day I finally read it.

Homeschooling is fun.....hard!   I seriously can't even count anymore on my hands how many times I've heard "I just don't know how you do it!"   Honestly...I really don't know any formula for successful homeschooling, I don't follow a particular model.  I just wake up everyday and follow my lesson plan for that day. 

I wish I could say I deal seamlessly with interruptions, and I am teacher of the year in the eyes of my children.  But neither of those statements would be true.  In fact....as "hard" as year one of homeschool was with a 1st grader, a K4 an a newborn....that was easy in comparison to the present.

I'll be honest it seems as though each year has new challenges an each year has it's own struggles.  Somethings get insanely more difficult...while other things become a dependable routine...and are easy. 

I've been thinking a lot lately how the Lord brings us to something, sometimes He moves us where we aren't even sure we want to be.  Sometimes He calls us to a season that if we were in charge...would not last nearly as long as He has for us.   I've had a few moments in life where the grass seemed much greener on the other side.

I remember surrendering to the call to homeschool.  I honestly thought maybe a year or two at the most.  This past weekend, I began planning year FOUR!!

The amazing part is, the Lord just keeps bringing me full circle.  Back to His word.  That's all.  I mean...I struggle...this isn't easy...and yes, I choose to homeschool....but if you know the Lord, when He calls you to do something, you've got to do it!  I mean I suppose you can not do it, but honestly....as hard as homeschooling is....I can not even begin to tell all the stories of God's redeeming grace, His faithful sanctification of my heart, His constant pursuit of my mind for His glory.  That on top of being able to not only watch my children learn to read but to teach them to read...because their ability to read means, Lord willing, that one day through the pages of Scripture my sweet Jesus will come alive and capture their hearts and save their souls...as He has done for me.


So as tough as it's been lately....and the struggles we've got, the Lord, as I said, has brought me full circle in His word and prayer, fervently crying out as David did, "Create in my a pure heart O God an renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 and "Forgive me my hidden faults O Lord and keep Thy Servant from willful sins.."  Psalm 19:12....and certainly best of all when being responsible for my kids' education..."Lord grant me wisdom to teach them according to their need"  as He tells us to ask Him in James 1:5.  This one is constantly on the tip of my tongue....especially when I want to quit.

When the Lord gave me those verses and wrote them upon my heart over 13 years ago, I wasn't even married, I didn't have kids...nor was that even a thought on my radar....and yet all these years later...the Word of the Lord stands...and powerfully changes and daily ministers to the depths of my soul in so many ways.

Dear friend....if you aren't...get in the word!  If you are...I'd encourage you to do three things....journal it, memorize it (a verse at a time...however He speaks to you) and pray it back to Him!  Our Lord is faithful and amazing!!!

Answered prayer at the Kitchen Sink.

I am continually amazed at the Lord's graciousness.  This may sound trivial to some of you..but I am almost always praying for creativity when it comes to teaching my children.  I am not creative, and it's hard for me to think outside the box.  In fact, for my type A personality...I'd love to take a class..."How to be creative" 

So this morning, we started our daily school routine with Bible as usual, except they were all snacking, so I decided to teach at the breakfast bar.  We were talking through "thoroughness."  Yeah, sometimes I wonder if the kids at 7, 5 and 3 will get what I teach them...but today was amazing!!

I have been teaching the kids daily through Operational Character Qualities that I snagged from the Duggar Family Website.  They have really enjoyed it.  It teaches a godly character quality in opposition to a worldly quality.  So today...we were talking about being thorough...completely a task and having the wisdom to know when we are neglecting duties and responsibilities that are God given..so that we can change our attitudes to concentrate on what the Lord calls us to do and then be responsible to do them.

Wrapping my mind around all this was a little much.  I love how I can read, re-read and read again God's word...and yet each time be challenged to change in a new way...to honor Him.  His word is inexhaustible.

As I demonstrated to the kids the importance of being thorough..by offering them raw rice as opposed to cooked rice...they started to grasp the importance of completing tasks according to the directions. 

As we talked through where wisdom comes from and what wisdom is...the Lord of course, led me to James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."



Which led to a wonderful conversation about being generous.  I am so thrilled about this example...this is the LORD blessing me with creativity....an answered prayer!!!!  I took a cup, and placed it under the faucet, letting it fill up and continually overflow.  I said, "boys this is the Lord's kindness and generosity towards us....in giving us wisdom....He says  He gives generously without finding fault!!!"


Honestly, I think the demonstration meant more to my heart than theirs (maybe...it's hard to gauge) but I keep thinking...God does fill our cup...overflowing almost always.  He gives so graciously, so freely and so generously...so perfectly.  I've repeatedly seen in my life how the Lord gives us what I need.  We may not "sign-up" for it, or often wonder if there is a possibility we've made a mistake....but ultimately...we rest in God's sovereignty and trust..knowing that He has chosen His best for us....for His glory.

Homeschooling is hard.  Teaching, correcting, planning, testing....all the while maintaining the home, cooking, cleaning...and on and on...it's a lot to balance.  But God...He gives a greater grace.  He overflows my cup...He supplies the strength to do it.  Sometimes I want to quit...just to walk away have a "normal" mom life...drop the kids off at school and be done...but then, God reels me back into reality (because He has called me to do this, and this is my 'normal') and whispers..."faithful is He who calls you, He will also bring it to pass."  1 Thes. 5:24


And today in that simple demonstration of an overflowing cup...I saw the beauty of my Savior speaking to my heart...I've got this!


The boys and I are memorizing James 1:5 in hopes of hiding it in our hearts so that we can use the wisdom that God gives us to know His ways, and choose them over our own.

Yes, Son....Bread too!!

I am blessed with a super best friend.  She encourages me to seek Jesus.  Honestly, we've got the type of friendship that, I don't even have to talk to her to be encouraged by her to seek the Lord.  She lives it.  So I know daily she is seeking Him and sometimes that's all the encouragement I need.

So how fitting was it, that after my evening with Braden and talking about how the Lord does want us to eat bread, He wasn't just saying eat all meat and obey Him.  (Although I was so blessed by his sweet little heart, taking God at His word, literally!!)...I found this (which my sweet friend probably used with her children and passed along to me):

It is a poster, that reads, "I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."  John 6:35   It now hangs above our school table!   It was a wonderful conversation starter with my sweet five year old about the Lord and His goodness towards us.

I love that although my sweet little five year old may not have the best handwriting, or my seven year old doesn't spell every word right when he writes stories (...just yet..). I am privileged to stay at home and school my children.  Which for us starts in His word.  Then in all the "important" stuff.  I can honestly say...if after yesterday, I am still praising God for the call to homeschool.....I know it's from Him.   There are challenging days (yesterday was my 'public school' day...the day it's so hard to get our work done here, public school seems to be the best option), there are amazing days, there are blah days....then there are the moments that the Lord just whispers to my heart in the midst of the madness and reminds me of the PURPOSE in homeschool...for our family.  While I may not homeschool all the way through....I do believe that the Lord is using me in the lives of my children.  I love this verse:

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix  their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who  richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good  works,  to  be generous and ready to share,  storing  up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." 1 Timothoy 6:17-19

I want to enjoy the good gifts of my children, and more importantly I want to give them the foundation of Christ.  That's the treasure, teaching them how Christ is relevant in all of life.....showing them that He is the foundation of all things. This is life, Christ!

I also want to be a diligent teacher, showing my children that as God calls you to do something, you should do it with diligence and persistence...until He leads you elsewhere.  This morning as I was reading through Jeremiah I was so convicted by this, "Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness..."  Jeremiah 48:10.  If I feel that homeschooling our children is a call that God has given me, then it is His work that He has given me to do.  So...I've got to step it up....keeping  a watchful eye and a very prayerful heart that I would not approach homeschool with slackness.   Really, that I would not approach being a wife and mother with slackness.  That's my 'job' right now.  Impacting my family for His glory! Anyone who does it knows, it is a tough call, and yet in the eyes of our culture...not a very "valuable" call.

So, I'm off to "change the world" this morning, one little heart at a time....armed with the word of the Lord!!

"Jesus in our hearts" by Braden

Homeschool: Who learned more the Teacher or the Student?

I remember clearing tell a friend...... “If I am not homeschooling next year, you need to call me out on it, because I really feel after praying that this is what the Lord is leading me to do.”

Well, by His grace, she didn't have to call me out, because He led me in obedience...and on August 1, Valentine Academy opened for day one.

So I hear a few comments all the time:

“I can't believe you homeschool, I could never do that!”
“Wow...I admire you, there is NO way I could teach my own children.”
“You must be so patient!!”

By His grace, I continue to point people to His promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He WILL bring it to pass!” To homeschool you have to know that you know that that is what the Lord has called you to do, and then when you have bad days, because you will, you just have to rest in that call and simply trust Him.

So, let me testify to His goodness and grace. What did my son learn in first grade? Well, contractions, punctuation, forces, and that our country had to fight for our freedom. To name a few things. But to be honest ladies....I learned far more than I think he did.

I learned...I do NOT rely on the Lord for His strength as I need to. I try to hard to push through things. I enjoy doing things quickly and efficiently....I enjoy crossing things off the “to-do” list. I am far less patient than I thought I was.

In short, I learned, I am saved without doubt, but I have to stop thinking I have some sort of control over my sanctification. I desperately NEED to refining work of the Holy Spirit in my life daily. And as passionate as the Lord has made me about living out God's word to His glory, I am at war with my sinful flesh. I MUST refuse to let my flesh win, yet I am completely dependent upon to power of God to win that battle!!!

I learned my son is an amazing little boy, his mind is always going. He never stops wondering and creating in his head. He doesn't really care about a “to-do” list. He wants to learn even though he tells me almost daily “school is dumb.” He truly enjoys a challenge, even though I have to coax him along in some subjects. He is capable of doing far more than I realized a seven year old could.

I learned that anything worth accomplishing is worth working hard for. I learned that homeschooling my children is not about personal prestige and the ability to say, “look at me I homeschool.” I learned that my God so loves me, that He loves me through my selfishness and reaches to the depth of my soul and will use anything in this world to refine my heart.

I learned ultimately, that this time I have, is so very limited with them, that while it may be hard, and may mean I'm not at every ladies bible study, or can't hang with friends whenever I want because I may be lesson planning or whatever, I can confidently say, “I have answered His call, I have followed His lead and I am being refined by the Spirit of the living God through homeschooling my children.”

I am NOT saying everyone has this call, I am not condeming anyone who does not homeschool. I believe in my heart, every child every semester.....choose what the Lord leads you to do for the glory of His name. What is best for you, your child and your family. Not everyone is cut out to homeschool or to be homeschooled. I however, have been blessed beyond measure that the Lord would call us to this adventure, empower us to do it, and Lord willing, keep us by His grace to continue as He sees fit.
I am saying, God IS good! He does care. He speaks to us in the everydayness of life. God is a god of the mundane. He is Lord over all!