A Firefighter's Wife

Making Their Faith Their Own

2012-02-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

From the Archives...

Dear Mothers,

I was brought up in a Christian home where I accepted Christ at the age of six but I didn’t really make my faith my own until I was in my early twenties. When I became pregnant with my first child, the Lord got my attention. One day He said so clearly to my spirit, “Stacie do you want to raise your children your way or My way?” I got the point. I told Him that I wanted to do it His way but I didn’t know how. The first thing He did was give me a love for His Word. After that was established, He then showed me how to live a Spirit-filled life.

One thing I want for my children is that they would make their faith their own. I do not want them assuming that they can go through life trying to be as “good” as they can be. I want them to understand that they HAVE to have a real, gut-level, honest relationship with Jesus. I want them to understand the power that they have available to them when they ask for the Holy Spirit’s help.

Someone once said, “God has no grandchildren.” They are right. You can’t get to heaven riding on your parent’s faith in God. It has to be theirs!

Awhile back, I was praying for my children in the morning. I specifically prayed that they would have soft hearts towards God. I prayed that when He spoke to them, they would recognize His voice and not harden their hearts. That evening my eldest child and I got into an argument. I was disciplining him and he did not like it. I tried to go for his heart, but was having no success. I finally sent him to bed, hoping he would think about it and understand why he was having consequences for his behavior. He came back out a few minutes later and tearfully told me he was sorry for what he had done and how disrespectful he has been. He asked if we could pray. I’ve never heard my child pray with such conviction, such anguish, and such longing for a new start with God. He prayed specifically that God would give him the strength to do the right thing. He confessed that he couldn’t be good on his own. After he was done confessing and making things right with God, I prayed over him. I praised God that my son understood the relationship that he needed to have between him and his Savior. I thanked God for helping him make his faith stronger and that he was tapping into the Holy Spirit’s power. Afterwards, we were able to end the evening with a tearful hug and an “I love you”. It was beautiful…

Later that evening, I realized God had answered my morning prayer for my child. I was greatly encouraged and renewed in my vision for my children. Praise the Lord!

I hope you will continually pray for your children as well. They need to understand confession and repentance. Then the sweetness of reconciliation comes and they understand what Jesus meant when He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”.

After my child prayed to the Lord to forgive him, he told me he felt so much better and that he felt lighter. The next day he disobeyed, but immediately came to me and confessed. Without prompting, he got down on his knees and confessed his sins. Afterwards, he looked at me and said, “Mom, I feel so much better!” Woo hoo!!! The kid is getting it!

From One Mom to Another,

A Pleasant Surprise!

2012-01-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

My hubby took me clothes shopping the other day. Yes, you heard that right. Clothes shopping!!!! I had lost some weight due to my tonsillectomy and my pants were literally falling off of me. He couldn't stand it anymore, so he told me he wanted to go get me a new pair of jeans. After taking me to two different stores, we finally found a pair that would work. Before we went to pay, he suggested I find a shirt, too. Then I found a cute skirt I liked. Oh my! He was so generous and sweet. He even refused to let me use my mad money!

So the above picture is me in my new long skirt. I LOVE long skirts. I'm crazy about them! We live in a very windy region and I feel very "safe" in these. They are modest and I feel very feminine in them. I like to dress up even if I never leave the house. I feel better when I am "put together" for my husband when he is home.

Here is the shirt and jeans he gave me. I just loved how vintage, wispy and light it looked. I also really liked the colors. Lily and Jess LOVED it when I came home to show them.

After clothes shopping, he took me to lunch. After 16 years, this man is truly figuring out how to romance his woman. I never thought it would be this way. It is so nice to be able to go on dates now. Having a 13 year old has truly made a difference. As the children get older, I think it is going to be easier to focus more on each other.

Thanks, Steve! You made my day!

REAL Snow Cones and My Musings

2012-01-25T06:19:00.000-08:00

Jessica wanted to take advantage of all our ice and snow and make REAL snow cones.

We gathered snow. Notice she is getting where everyone has been walking? Ugh! I kept telling her to go someplace new, but she wouldn't listen. Oh well!

Steve had bought them some cheap pop at the Dollar Store. A real treat, since Mom never lets them by it.

I also gave them permission to use my espresso syrups to pour over it. I think it was probably too sweet. Andrew was not impressed. They all seemed to agree that pop was best.

Now, if I would have had blue raspberry syrup or bubblegum, I probably would have partaken. That is about the only snow cone I will ever eat.

I can't believe how much fun we are having as a family. The movies stay are staying off most of the time, and we are playing game after game of Trouble with the little ones. Reading so many books, I'm afraid I'm going to get the vocal nodules back! I am seriously losing my voice over it. I have a hard time saying no when they bring a book to me. I LOVED reading as a child. We lived on a ranch and didn't have TV growing up. We read, we played, we read and we played.

Tonight, the kids were playing freeze tag (a little loud when we are in the house). I sent them outside and they were still playing it in the freezing rain, ice and snow. I couldn't believe it! I'm not hearing, "Can we watch a movie?" nearly as much anymore. Even Steve seems to be watching less. Steve and I love playing Scrabble together when he is not working. I love doing this because he has never been much of a game person.

I'm just having so much fun spending time with my children. I am enjoying them more than ever. I don't know if it is because they are getting older or I am less distracted by the internet, books, and other media. I am loving it though!

Ice Storm and My Musings

2012-01-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen ice like this since '96, the year after hubby and I got married. Wow! I am so thankful that Canon gave me a new camera and I was able to take pictures of it. Was finding it really hard to blog without my camera.

The handles of my wheel barrel planter.

LOL! Look at the poor trampoline. I can't believe my baling twine fix has held this thing together! The whole bottom of it looks like it is about to split in two. Ice is heavy!

With sadness I saw that my beautiful cherry tree on the wall had the largest top branch broken off. Hoping I can figure out how to shape it so it will look good come spring.

There's the break. No wonder, look at all that ice!

Jessica loved breaking off the ice and eating it.

When it started melting, I told the kids to keep out from under the trees. It is like shards of glass when those icicles dropping off.

Josh in his shorts. Yes, he is crazy! I really do think he has something against pants. Here he is feeding the goats.

It was so thick, even I could stand on top of the snow crusted with ice!

The poor van has been crusted over with ice for days. Our driveway is such a mess, we could barely get the old Suburban out. We ended up parking it in the middle, halfway up the driveway so no one could get down and get stuck, and so we could get out. As you can imagine, Steve has been on a bunch of overtime with all the wrecks and power lines being down. The older people keep falling and breaking hips. I wish people would just stay indoors. It isn't worth it!

I was scheduled for oral surgery on Friday, but that got rescheduled because of the ice. This left us with getting four days of homeschooling done, which felt good because all the public school kids were out four out of the five days this week, due to MLK Day and snow days.

The boy's Christian sports program, A.C.T.S. was cancelled today. Jessica's last basketball game and sadly her pizza party were cancelled as well. They are all a little bummed, but I am enjoying NOT running kids around. This has left me time to catch up on my blogging, make some yummy meals, and to mend my husband's grandmothers quilt.

We saw "Courageous" yesterday. WELL DONE!!! I would recommend it to anyone! It covered a gamut of themes and had some very good points.

Our reading time is interesting. I only have two children that are wanting to hear the story. Not sure what I'm supposed to do about that? Should I force the other ones to stay and hear, or let them go play? Just curious as to what others do.

Snow Sculptures and Chapter Books

2012-01-19T11:10:00.000-08:00

We finally got some snow! I guess making a snowman was not challenging enough, so they made sculptures snow women. I was impressed at the level of detail they went into. Josh's had a lady holding a Bible. We all thought her nose was a bit interesting, but a good job none-the-less. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Here is Lily checking out Josh's lady.

Marcus couldn't figure out how to make the arms on his. I told him to give her a smooch for the camera. He actually did!

Alas, it is starting to melt now. I can't believe how much more laundry there is to do when it snows. It can be quite overwhelming.

Instead of turning on a movie last night, we started reading "Summer of the Monkeys". I was a bit worried about how I could get the little ones to be quiet and listen, so I allowed them to bring their Legos out and play with them as they listened. It worked great! I am determined to start reading chapter books to them. I know, it is pathetic that I haven't made this a priority. Honestly, I just haven't had the patience for it. Every time I would try to get the little ones to settle down, I would get more impatient and frustrated. It ended up not being what I envisioned. Now that Lily is almost three, I'm trying it again. After "Summer of the Monkeys", I plan on reading a "Hank the Cowdog" book and then start on the "Little House on the Prairie" books again. It is hard to find books that 13 years old boys to 3 year old girls enjoy!

Grateful

2012-01-14T05:38:00.000-08:00

How can I thank the Lord? How can I tell Him how grateful I am for so many things in my life? I have to start somewhere...

1) Grateful that homeschooling is going so well. We have been consistent and the children are moving forward in their studies. I am seeing some improvement in their writing, spelling and reading. Math even seems like it is moving right along.

2) Grateful that I get to homeschool my kids. I live in a state with very few rules about it. I don't have to come up with portfolios, syllabuses, attendance, attach myself to a charter school or come up with official lesson plans. I don't even have to test every year! What a blessing. It makes it easier to relax and to teach my children at a pace that they seem comfortable in.

3) Grateful for positive changes in my marriage. Steve and I are working together towards a common goal of raising these children in the admonition of the Lord. We are having regular family devotion times and the kids are learning lessons from both of us as we both do the teaching.

4) Grateful for the "Help Me Be Good" book series by Joy Berry. I bought all 27 books for the younger children for Christmas. I find them everywhere! I think they like these books because they can relate to the struggle that other children experience in trying to behave. It isn't necessarily Christian literature, but the principles in the book are very much indeed what Jesus preaches. I, of course, interject "How would Jesus handle that?" and stuff like that. I read about four a day. They bring them to me all the time and I have seen many positive changes in their behavior. It is nice to be able to refer back to a particular book if I am seeing some attitudes that need to change.

5) Grateful that my body seems to be mending and my health, in general, is good. My hubby bought me an exercise machine and I can't wait to use it. I am a fair-weather exerciser, so it will be good to get on that thing and work my stress out as I listen to some good worship songs with lots of Scripture.

6) Grateful that the two older boys came back from Junior High Camp with wonderful stories about new friendships and lots of attitude changes. I think the sessions must have been powerful! God is good and continues to reveal Himself to my children. My Marcus, was having a hard time the other day with friendships and he knew where to go when he was hurting. He read straight through the book of James and told me about it afterwards. It was so encouraging to know that he ran to God before he even ran to me! Praise the Lord!!!

7) Grateful for family and friends who love and support our family. It is comforting knowing that almost all of our extended family are Christians. I know many do not have that kind of support. I don't want to take it for granted. I have also surrounded myself with friends who will call me out and keep me accountable in my walk with Jesus.

8) Grateful for heat! It was 24 degrees two nights ago and the heat pump started acting up. I called the repairman because it was set at 74 degrees but the house was at 62. Brrrrrr! Thankful that it was only $105 to fix the problem. It could have been so much worse.

9) Grateful for a chance to teach "Believing God" for our Women's Sunday school. This is one of my passions. Encouraging women to get in the Word for themselves. Discussing biblical concepts and edifying one another in the Lord are so important to me.

10) Grateful for this blog that allows me "to shout to the nations" what the Lord has done for me!

My Musings

2012-01-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

Please pray for me. I am sick with a cold (on top of still healing from my tonsillectomy), and I am tired and I am struggling to have patience with the six blessings that God has given me. Yesterday, I blew it. BLEW IT!!! It was not pretty. I was so convicted and asked God to forgive me for my outburst and my impatience.

Today is a new day and I ask that you would join with me in prayer that although "I am weak, He will be made strong." I have been in the Word everyday and so excited to be teaching a women's Sunday School. We are doing Beth's "Believing God", and I am just astounded to be reminded just how deep my unbelief runs in some areas. I am thrilled to get the chance to not just do this study again, but teach it to other ladies who might struggle in this area of their spiritual lives as well. I feel very connected to the Lord and feel His presence almost constantly. I love to see Him working in our lives and performing small and big miracles that just amaze me!

I am thankful that today is a more mellow day, it consists mainly of homeschooling, chores, a haircut, heat pump being repaired and cooking three healthy meals. No running kids around to this activity and that activity. Thankfully, those days are reserved for Mondays and Tuesdays. The rest of the week is a lot easier.

I hope to be blogging more often, but my camera is in the shop and I have no pictures to share.

Have a blessed day and thank you as always for your continued prayers for me and the fam!

Back From the Dead- My Musings

2012-01-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

What a week and a half! Man, am I glad that is over. Tonsillectomies are NOT fun when you are 36 years old. I do have to say that it was easier than the foot surgery last year (BY FAR). The Doc says I am cured and I also have the added benefit of my arm and shoulder pain leaving. I was finally able to rest like I needed to! So I killed two birds with one stone. I am happy to say good bye to two physical therapy appointments a week. What a blessing!

I am almost back to my old self, despite a sore throat. I even went outside today and fixed the trampoline net!

Something I really learned about myself is that I really do enjoy my role as a wife and a mother. It is so fulfilling. I know that I take being able to stay home and care for my large brood for granted. I want to be more grateful for this privilege.

As usual, when mom is down and out, dad had to pick up the slack. It created tension which came to a boiling point. Instead of being afraid of the conflict, I embraced it and used it as a catalyst to implement some changes. We are both happier for it. I just want to say that conflict in marriage is not always bad. Time + Conflict = Change. And changing we are. It is a good thing.

Something else I was reminded of is just how effective it is to GO to your child instead of YELL at your child to come here or give an instruction one room away. When I had a voice that was barely a whisper, my children actually behaved and listened better. It was amazing! I am trying to form this into a habit. Stop what I am doing, go to the child, touch their shoulder and get them to meet my eyes, then give the instruction in a gentle, yet firm voice. It works, people!

While I was on my sick bed I finished up Beth Moore's newest Bible study, Mercy Triumphs": A Study of James. It was not my favorite because it was more academic, but I did learn some valuable lessons in it. I have volunteered to lead Believing God for our women's Sunday school class this coming term. I am super-excited to be able to do Believing God: A Fresh Explosion of Faith again. This study moves and shakes you! It will be a perfect wrap up to James.

I am ever grateful for God's Word. I love how God speaks to me through it, affirms the lessons I am learning, and teaches me to love the unlovable. He is so good and gracious to me.

Entitlement Mentality

2012-01-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Mothers,

It is so easy to want a cushy life when it comes to parenting. You want to be served, not the other way around. It is the brackish sin of self-entitlement.

The book, The Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp has some wonderful insight to this problem. He says, “I am afraid that many of us live for comfort and bring this entitlement mentality to our parenting. We reason that we have the right to quiet, harmony, peace, and respect, and we respond in anger when we do not get it. Parents who demand comfort, ease, regularity, peace, space, quiet, and harmony will be ill-equipped for this spiritual battle that is raging for our children’s hearts. They will begin to see their child as the enemy, they will begin to fight with him rather than for him, and even worse, they will tend to forget the true nature of the battle and the identity of the real enemy. They will act out of frustrated desire, doing and saying regrettable things, and they will fail to be effective and productive in those strategic moment of ministry in which God has placed them.”

As parents, we are also guilty of having silly expectations when it comes to our children showing us appreciation. We wonder when we are going to get some of the credit for all the sacrificial things that we do for them, such as sitting season after season in snow, rain, wind and heat to watch them play their favorite sport. Will we receive thanks for endless taxiing to this event or that event? Will they come up and give us a joyful hug when we hand them yet another basket of clean laundry? Will they compliment us on cooking thousands of healthy, well-balanced meals throughout their childhood? HELLO! I don’t think so!!!

David Paul Tripp goes on to say, “I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard parts of this list recited to me by parents, always with the same final punch line. ‘Isn’t about time I get some credit?’ It seems logical, so harmless, so right. Children should appreciate their parents. Yet being appreciated cannot be our goal. When it becomes the thing we live for, we will unwittingly look with hyper-vigilant eyes for appreciation in every situation.

Teenagers don’t often burst in the door at the end of the day and say, ‘Do you know what I was thinking about on the bus ride home today, Mom? I was thinking about how much you and Dad have done for me over the years. You have been with me and for me from the very moment of my life until now. On the bus I was flooded with gratitude and just couldn’t wait to get home and say thank you!’ If this happens to you, erect stones as a lasting memorial, or light an eternal flame!

Very few parents have headed to bed only to hear sobbing coming from their teenage daughter’s bedroom and had this conversation. ‘What’s wrong, Dear?’ ‘Oh, I was just thinking about you and Mom and how unthankful I’ve been. I feel so guilty that I haven’t appreciated you more, and I’ve committed myself to demonstrating that I appreciate you ever day!’ On the contrary, the trend for teenagers is to be much more filled with self-orientation and self-interest than to be filled with an awareness and appreciate of others.

If this is the mentality that parents have, then they will struggle a lot with discouragement and anger during the teen years.”

We need to be asking ourselves these questions:

1. Why am I doing what I am doing?

2. Who am I serving?

3. What are the things that I have come to expect and demand?

4. Whose desires rule the moments of opportunity with my child-God’s or mine?

From One Mom to Another,

God is Carrying Me

2011-12-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to thank you all so much for your prayers. So far the tonsillectomy has been successful. The doc said they were not in good shape and I should be feeling much better in a week or two now that they are out.

The surgery went really well. My sis and I got out our Scrabble game after they put in the IV, and had to immediately put it away again. I went right in! Last time I had surgery I had to wait something like 6 hours. It was very nice.

The best way I can describe the way it feels right now is two baseballs covered in sandpaper in the back of my throat. So far there has been little bleeding so I'm being very careful about trying not to clear my throat and cough. Not easy when you have a post nasal drip.

Sleeping and taking my meds has been a challenge. I can't sleep because my throat is so swollen that I immediately start snoring so I can breathe. It wakes me up because it is so painful. So I just take cat naps all day and night long. I'm watching "Biggest Loser" on Netflix Watch Instantly. It is a great series and keeps my mind off of the pain.

I am so thankful for how God is carrying me. I have never counted my blessings as much as I have since this surgery. After having the bunyonectomy (sp?) about the same time last year, this is a walk in the park. So thankful for that reference point. I can walk around and be part of the family even though I can't talk. Lily is a year older, too so that makes it easier.

Pray that the swelling with go down so that I can get more liquids down me. It takes me about two hours to drink a 1/3 of a cup of liquid. I'm starving all the time! LOL! I will probably losing the five pounds that I put on from my foot surgery that I never could seem to lose.

I'm looking forward to not having sore throats all the time. It was affecting my singing and what I could eat. I really am grateful for having the opportunity to get this done. The icing on the cake is that I don't have to pay a dime for it since we were at 100% on our insurance.

My sis and I have been playing Scrabble a lot. I'm still whipping her even being all doped up on my pain meds! LOL! She is the Yoda of Scrabble. I used to hate playing that game now I love it.

Thanks again for your prayers. God is carrying me and will continue to hold me in the palm of His hand.

Forgiving Our Children

2011-12-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

(From the Archives)

Dear Mothers,

Do you ever find yourself taking what your children say to you personally? I find that sometimes I have a really hard time forgiving my children over particular offenses. Especially when they say things like "You hate me!" or "I hate this house!" Those words can make me see RED!!! The book, Good and Angry addresses this very issue.

Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller say this, “Forgiving children doesn’t mean we ignore offenses. Rather, forgiveness opens the door for significant confrontation to take place. Instead of taking the offense personally, you release the emotional intensity so that you can help a child develop character. The fact of the matter is that most kids don’t appreciate the correction and the amazing patience we have as parents. But the lack of gratefulness we receive in this job of parenting doesn’t lessen our task. We must continually correct our kids while looking for ways to do it that they can accept. Plan your comments and present the critique in constructive and gracious ways. Forgiveness frees you from harshness and allows for controlled, consistent training to take place. Tolerance is easier when you don’t have accumulated frustration. Forgiveness allows you to release offenses instead of saving them up.”

I love that! If I’m not emotional about every situation because I’ve taken it personally, I will be less likely to “blow my top” when misbehavior does happen. Instead of trying to control my children with my anger, I will instead be purposeful in my training techniques.

I want to develop this lifestyle of forgiveness. The only way I can do that is through intentional prayer and walking in The Spirit.

Remember that dealing with annoying behavior in children requires a huge amount of patience and forgiveness. They are still on the “assembly line”, they are not adults and yet we expect them to display adult-like maturity at all times. Children will make mistakes and they will NOT always respond well to correction. Mostly, change comes slowly. This gives us many opportunities to practice forgiveness over and over and over again!

From One Mom to Another,

My Christmas Apron and a Surprise Surgery

2011-12-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Last year my MIL, Ethel, gave me this beautiful vintage-style Christmas apron. Isn't it lovely?

I wear aprons everyday. It is fun to have one that is just for Christmas baking. I love the red trim and the back is to die for!

I need to sew up the heart-shaped pocket because my cell phone has made it sag a bit.

Speaking of Christmas baking, I caved in and did what I swore I would never do. I got the kids another gingerbread house. I shudder when I think of the mess, but they actually didn't do too bad. I am torturing them by making them wait till Christmas to eat it. Hopefully, there will be no cobwebs hanging on it by then! It will be harder than a rock by the time they eat that silly thing.

Everyone seems to be into drawing right now. Nana Diana surprised the kids with some drawing pads and they have gone to town! Jacob and Andrew's drawing has really improved and I love seeing what they are into. They are expanding their interests from just Legos to something else. That is a good thing! It is also hard to fight when you are drawing quietly.

Christmas is almost upon us. I am done with shopping, just need a wrap a few more presents. I am also looking forward to singing in our Christmas Eve service.

I am going to enjoy talking and singing as much as I can this week because next Wednesday I am going in for a tonsillectomy. I am sick of having sore throat after sore throat. I decided to bite the bullet and ask my family to help me while they are on Christmas vacation. They have lovingly and graciously agreed to care for me and the kids so that Steve will not have to take any days off of work. If I can do a bunyonectomy, then I can do a tonsillectomy. My insurance is at a 100% until the end of the year and my doc graciously agreed to squeeze me in at the last minute.

I ask for you to pray for two things:

1. I will not have excessive bleeding (I guess 1 in 25 people have to go back and get cauterized again)

2. I will heal quickly, so that I can start homeschooling within 10 days. I guess talking is NOT something you want to do.

Thank you so much. I value your prayers more than words can say!

Have a Merry Christmas and may the Lord bless you and yours abundantly!

My Musings

2011-12-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

(My favorite Christmas decoration. My jewelry tree that my parents made me)

I just haven't felt like blogging much lately. Life has gotten in the way. I'm not going to lie to you, it's been tough.

(My almond biscotti is my Christmas gift to our parents)

After Grandma Mary died, my husband graciously watched the kids so that I could go to my mom's and help her with the overwhelming task of sorting out Grandma's things. It was so hard, but I was thankful that my mom didn't have to do it alone. My mom and I even took a little time to play and I got to listen to her do an Underground Tour in Pendleton. She is so cool! She volunteered to do a tour for free for the ladies who are in drug and alcohol counseling. I was shocked at how young they were, but how old they appeared. I silently prayed for them as I followed them in the tour. They were so sweet, polite and thankful.

(Our tree full of firefighter ornaments. You wouldn't believe how many firemen Santas there are!)

I hit the ground running from then on and found myself so far behind that there was one day where I didn't get on the computer to check my email! That is a true rarity!

(Steve's Dad putting the final ornament on our Advent Tree)

I have been dealing with a lot of misbehavior with my children. It has been a full-time job and I am doing my best to keep my head in this game. Part of that is not doing extra-curricular activities, such as blogging or watching movies. I am trying to be as consistent as possible and paying attention to what is going on around me. I have several children that tend to slip under the radar. They know how to escape when there is work to be done!

(Last year, Lily had fun crawling all over the presents)

( Andrew doing some Christmas baking last year. These bacon/chestnut wraps are a family favorite!)

I've also been going regularly to physical therapy for my shoulder and arm pain. We are making slow progress, but due to my stress level, it is taking a long time. God is teaching me ways to reduce my stress and I am listening. I'm getting down right sick of this nerve pain! I want to get better so badly. I was blessed with a free pass to a gym and have been going regularly. One of the biggest strides I have made is my posture. It is 70% better! I have always had bad posture and it feels like a miracle that I can be relaxed enough to pull my shoulders back and sit up straight. My back is stronger than it has been in years and is less likely to go into spasm. I think gardening will be a breeze this year if I keep it up!

Homeschooling has been going good. Andrew is starting to put some words together on his own and we have now started the Super Silent E. Teaching reading is not one of my favorite things to do. I am so Type A and impatient. I have to really force myself to slow down and wait for him. I love teaching my children science, history and Bible though.

Jessica just finished her third grade grammar book and is headed into fourth! I am going to work more on writing skills and typing with her, especially since she is starting to email now.

The rest are just plugging along. Attitudes have been much better. We are all looking forward to Christmas break!

(Diana is enjoying her Grandchildren at two Christmas's ago. Such a blessing to have family come and celebrate with us!)

It snowed last night! Our first really big snow! Now is the season for muddy floors and wet snow pants to be flung all over the floor. Oh, but when they see the hot cocoa their mama made to warm them up, there will be squeals of delight!

(This is three winters ago, when Jacob was a baby)

I got to go on a date with my dad last night. He took me to dinner and then we went on our annual Christmas shopping trip. So fun and special! I love that man. I am so thankful for the close relationship we have.

Christmas is around the corner. We are in the thick of advent trees, parties, decorating, wrapping and baking. I love this time of year. I especially love taking time for advent.

That's all there is. If you don't hear from me much these next few weeks, it is because I am focusing on what is the most important thing in my life, the Lord, my family and friends.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Grandma Mary's Fake Eyelashes

2011-12-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

As I was going through Grandma Mary's things I found a few really old items. The first thing was leg make up from WWII. It was still in it's original box! I hadn't even heard of leg make up before. I also found these massive fake eyelashes! I remember her wearing them when she dressed up for a square dancing party.

It felt like I had huge butterflies on my eyelids. I don't know how she did it for a whole evening!

The kids and I had fun trying them on. Here's Jess!

By this time, the sticky stuff was starting to wear off. I'm going to go buy some more, so we can have some more fun.

Look at Andrew's eyes! Too funny!

It was nice to be able to laugh after such a hard weekend. I'm saving those babies!

Grandma Mary 1929-2011

2011-12-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

This Saturday morning, my mother called me and said with a trembling voice that my grandma had passed away. I was so shocked. I just cried and cried. I couldn't believe the loss I felt. So many memories flooded my mind at that moment. The children wrapped their arms around me and told me how sorry they were. They don't often see me cry like that.

I was able to get a hold of Steve who was at the fire station and he came home immediately to watch the kids so that I could go be with my mom and sister. I had a two hour drive to think about the impact that this precious woman made on my life.

(Grandma loved dressing up. Here she is dressed up for our Revolutionary War party)

I knew my grandma loved me. She said it so often with such conviction.

She treasured my children and showered them with gifts at Christmas time.

She would show her twin granddaughters off anytime she had a chance.

My fondest memory is whenever it was time to say goodbye until she was able, she would stand on the front porch and wave until we were out of sight. She had the most beautiful smile!

She was the Christmas toy queen! She loved singing, moving Christmas toys. You should have seen her collection!

She had really been doing poorly this summer, but she rallied and was doing great these past couple of months. She had severe COPD and was on constant oxygen. That is why we were so surprised that she forgot to put her oxygen back on after getting ready for bed. She slowly slipped away and died like the way we all want to go, in our sleep. Not a hint of struggle. Such a blessing.

We needed to start packing her things out of the apartment. It was a treasured time for mother and daughters. We laughed and cried and cried and laughed. I chose two personal things. I saw her glasses with the pearls that went around her neck, and her motorcycle boots. She had those beautiful boots since I was old enough to remember.

My sister was able to visit her the night that she died. Jackie and the kids went over and had a treasured time with her. No regrets. She wrote about her story on her blog and the pictures are amazing. It's worth the trip.

(She loved holding the babies. Here she is with Lily when she was a few months old)

I am so thankful that last time I passed through, I stopped and saw her. It was a short visit and I had no idea that it was going to be my last. Our last words to each other was "I love you".

I am also thankful to know that she was a Christian. She knew the Lord was her Savior. What a comfort, what peace I draw from that knowledge that I will one day see her again.

As I was driving home from my mom's, I realized just how thankful I am for family. I am blessed to have a family that will drop everything to be there and support each other. Not everyone has that and it is a gift. We are loyal to the bone. We love each other. What a perfect time of the year to think about such things and value them.

Hug everyone a little tighter.

Time is short.

No regrets...

This is some of her family at her 80th surprise birthday party.

Go For The Eternal!

2011-12-02T05:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Mothers,

I was on a friend’s blog the other day and I came across this exhortation. “Go for the eternal. By God’s grace you will never regret it”. It really pierced my heart. I mean, it REALLY stopped and made me think.

How often do I actually “go for the eternal”? Not as often as I would admit. To be truthful, maybe two out of ten times. That is not a very good average. Why do I often focus on the temporary? Because, it is in my face at the moment. It is all I can see. I have trouble stepping back from the difficult situation and seeing the big picture. God’s picture. God’s view of things. Since I know I struggle with this, I need to be praying for an eternal perspective that only He can give me.

So when...

The goats get out and the kids are “trying” to get them back in as my raspberry bushes get destroyed, “Go for the eternal”.

When I have all six children at each other’s throats, instead of joining in the mayhem and getting angry because they just can’t get along and inevitably losing it myself, I need to “go for the eternal.”

When my husband calls me from work (after completing a 24 hour shift) and says there is another 24 hour shift available but it’s pure overtime and all I can think of is all the plans dashed to pieces and my “relief” is not coming, I need “to go for the eternal”. I need to graciously say "yes" if it in my power to do so. Not with annoyance and irritation. God will get me through the day, just like He got me through the day before.

When I have just finished sweeping and mopping the floor and a child drops a whole bowl of canned peaches on the way to the table, I need to “go for the eternal”. Freaking out will only hurt their heart. How many times have I accidently spilled things? Does it really matter in the scheme of life?

A great guideline is to think to yourself, “Would this matter in ten years?” Most of the time it doesn’t.

I don’t want any regrets. My time with my children seem like forever, but I know that my job is temporary. After they are launched into the world, I will truly see how these daily choices that I make are going to affect eternity.

It’s simple, yet profound…

Be encouraged. Go for the eternal. No regrets.

From One Mom to Another,

How do We Keep From Being Polluted?

2011-11-29T04:23:00.000-08:00

I'm studying the book of James right now and was profoundly moved by Beth Moore's insight.

She says, " The hands on message of James isn't written to those who have sequestered themselves from the world. James wrote for people serving actively, openly, and humbly right in its thick, pungent pollution. So, how on earth do we serve in it without smelling like it? With some serious discipline and determination, that's how. With courage and deep conviction. With a large daily dose of the Holy Ghost. You don't live this kind of life accidentally. You make up your mind who you want to be and daily die to the rest. You surrender yourself to living in the tension where you'll always be stretched and often be broken. Religion pure and undefiled is grit without the grime. You accept that far easier ways to live exist, but you were born for nothing less.

And when we sniff ourselves and smell the world, we run to the One who can wash us."

WOW!!! Let that one sink in and and through you.

Josh's First Shave

2011-11-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

I bought Steve this electric razor for an early Christmas present. Little did I know that the first one to use it would be Josh! Josh was starting to get a little dark shadow under his lip and I was so looking forward to seeing how it was going to come in, but Steve shaved it off.

Seee!!!! Oh well, maybe it will grow in quicker and thicker this way. He is really starting to look more grown up now.

Now he just can't wait to get taller! It seems to be all about the height with these boys.

Blessings in Abundance

2011-11-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

I visited my lovely In-Laws this last weekend and was privileged enough to attend their church. I just love going there! They preach the Bible and make and you can tell they practice an Acts-style new testament church. They just love each other and rejoice in meeting one another's needs.

The pastor gave us a slip of paper and challenged us to fill in the blanks. I thought it would make a perfect Thanksgiving blog post. I am also going to throw in random pictures of things I am thankful for. Ready...Get Set...GO!!!

Give thanks for....PHYSICAL BLESSINGS

1. Being able to walk
2. Being able to talk
3. Being able to see
4. Being able to hear
5. Despite breaking my back, I am able to do most things

(My twin, Jackie and I riding at my parent's ranch. Mt. Hood is in the background)

Give thanks for....FINANCIAL BLESSINGS

1. A pantry, freezer, and fridge full of food.
2. I have a house that is warm and cozy and big enough for all of us
3. Closets full of clothes, shoes and coats for winter
4. A good job for Steve
5. Steve makes enough so that I don't have to work

Give thanks for....MENTAL BLESSINGS

1. I do not have a tendency towards depression
2. I have the joy of the Lord
3. I can read and write
4. I have the ability to homeschool my six children.
5. I am able to write on my blog and in a few publications

(Our Kenyan pastor and his family that we support in various ways.)

Give thanks for....SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

1. SALVATION!!!!
2. Forgiveness of sin!!!!
3. Redemption!!!!
4. The Holy Spirit who lives in me!!!!
5.The unbelievable love that my God has for me!!!!
6. The ability to give to those in need!!!!

Give thanks for....ANSWERED PRAYER

1. Shoulder feels better
2. My brother-in-laws new job
3. A car was purchased by the church for someone who is struggling
4. Another friend's cancer was contained in her uterus. It has not spread.
5. Another friend got a free patches to stop smoking.
(and many more....)

(I get to benefit from these Titus 2 ladies, Margaret and Catherine. They keep me in line ;) )

Give thanks for....TODAY'S BLESSINGS

1. Safe trip from my in-laws
2. Having enough gas money in an envelope to travel.
3. Our van has been very dependable
4. That I made a three hour trip with only one potty stop!
5. I have a Bible in my lap
6. Freedom from physical persecution due to being a Christian.
7. A wonderful extended family
8. A twin sister that is like my other half. She knows me better than I know myself.
9. I am surrounded by friends that hold me accountable and love me enough to tell me I am sinning.
10. I get to homeschool today and my hubby is home to help me!

Give thanks for....ETERNAL BLESSINGS

Heaven...and all that it contains and means to us!

Blessings in Abundance

16 Years of Being a FireWife-Lessons I've learned...

2011-11-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

I posted this two years ago, but realized I haven't put much on my blog in regards to actually being a firefighter's wife. I would love to hear from you and pray that something in this might encourage you if you are struggling.

*****************************************

I have been a firefighter's wife for over 16 years now. We have struggled and we have triumphed over many things. I wish I would have known a few things at the beginning of my marriage that I know now. Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way on many an occasion.

First, having my husband gone for 24 plus hours is different than most people's situations. The shift work can drive you crazy if you let it. You don't get to have any relief like your friend's husbands who come home from their eight to five jobs. It's you, Baby! You and only you for 24 hours plus. You need to go into it thinking, "This is going to be hard work, but I can do it. God give me the strength that I need for THIS day."

Second, my expectations were way too high. Just because we make plans for dinner, Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays, does not mean they will come to pass. Fires happen, overtime comes, and medical calls never cease. I used to get so stressed out and angry when Steve would choose to go on a call instead of choosing to be with his family. Sometimes he would go in for overtime thinking that it would be two hours and he would get stuck and miss whatever event that we had planned. Then there is the 24 hour overtime shifts. Sweet for the pocket book, but hard on the family. The kids don't understand why Dad has to be gone for two days and you are left with whatever plans you had as a family that day. Sometimes you have to cancel them, or you just have to buck up and do it all by yourself. It used to frequently make me want to cry, but there is no use in fighting it. It is what it is. It is my husband's way of providing for his family. Praise God he is so faithful at it. I try not to get angry anymore. I try to be understanding and grateful.

Third, be careful when he walks in that door in the morning. Don't just start piling on the lists or complaints of what this child did and what "heck" you have been through the last 24 hours on the home front. You don't know what he has seen or done. He might have been up since 1:00 a.m. on a fire or a plane or car wreck. I learned this the hard way. Several years back, my husband came home in the morning and was unusually quiet. I remember nagging and complaining to him about something. I thought he was just being a grump and pushed even more. Later that afternoon, he finally told me that he had been on a SIDS victim. He was trying to come to grips with it in his mind. I noticed him holding his children tighter and not getting so frustrated with them. Was I a safe person for him to talk with? No, I had my own agenda. It broke my heart. Firefighters are special people. They are not usually very emotional and they deal with the stuff they see differently than most people. It is what makes them able to do their job. Be available, always if they want to talk. Consider it a privilege that they would share their feelings with you at all. Most of them don't talk about their feelings with each other, instead they use a morbid sense of humor to deal with the stuff they see.

Fourth, always ask if they slept. This is my way of being nosey in a sneaky way. He isn't just going to tell me about all the calls he has. He considers 85% of the calls that he goes on bogus anyway. He isn't going to waste his breath telling me about the heavy lady that fell for the 3rd time that day that called to have them pick her up and put her back in bed, or the stupid fire alarms that go off automatically at 3:00 in the morning. If I ask how he slept, then he sometimes says, "I didn't get to sleep until 3:00 a.m." That lets me know immediately to have very low expectations of him in the morning. I tell him to go take a nap if he needs too. Most of the times he opts out, but at least he knows that I understand his need for sleep. This keeps me from being angry and resentful when he isn't helping out more or not doing his honey-do list. Also, this opens the conversation to let him know that I'm listening if he does need to talk about a bad call.

Fifth, do not call the station all the time! Firewives, you don't want to be known as "so and so's wife, that can't handle anything while he is away." Yes, they talk about you! They analyze relationships just like we do. They can sense also if you are respectful to your husband. When I learned the art of respecting my husband in front of others, I truly believe he was more respected at his job as well. My husband is always telling me how much he appreciates it that I don't call him constantly at the station. He says he enjoys knowing that I can handle things while he's away. I'm not saying that I never call him. If I do have a financial question or scheduling question, I try to always call on his lunch break or after five. I do try to leave disciplining out. There isn't a whole lot he can do from the station except give a kid a talking to.

If you are a firefighter wife, would you please comment and let me know what kind of lessons that you have learned? I am very interested and I know others will be as well.

My Musings

2011-11-14T06:07:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that this last week my physical therapist "unstuck" my collarbone. I could feel instant relief! My shoulder and collarbone are in the right place now and it is no longer pinching a nerve. I am so thankful to the Lord for giving my therapist wisdom to know what was going on.

I had been fighting this since the middle of July and it didn't seem to matter what I was doing (ice, heat, massage, physical therapy, cortisone shot). To have some relief from chronic pain is amazing! I wanted to update you all, because many of you had been praying for me.

I am still dealing with the "golfer's elbow". They have recommended resting it, but as you know that is pretty hard to do when I'm right-handed.

Life is so good right now. The kids have remained healthy despite everyone dropping like flies around us.

I was also asked to sing at a women's event at Life in Christ church. They surprised me with a gift of $75! I have never been paid to sing. What a blessing! I was also asked to go sing in a different town for a Christmas event. I had to turn them down, but it felt good to be asked. I told them I would consider it for next year. Right now, I just need to focus on singing specials on Sundays. I do enjoy doing weddings (not funerals so much).

See this guy? This is my friend Aaron. He is an amazing musician. He and I have been playing music together for a few months now. I can't even describe how he plays this guitar. The Lord has brought us together and we are enjoying working on songs together and singing at church. He has a secular music background, so this is completely different to him. I have a canned music background, so doing live music is very much out of my comfort zone. We are both growing musically and spiritually and it will be interesting to see what God has in store for us.

God is still in the business of providing for our every need. We are so incredibly blessed as a family! Just in the past week I have received a free dresser, a free twin mattress, box springs and metal frame for a bed. I also got a great deal on another dresser. Oh, I forgot to mention the free refrigerator the week before that! Isn't God amazing?!?!?

Our Gorgeous Gorge!

2011-11-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

We are so blessed to be able to live in such a beautiful place. The Columbia Gorge is full of waterfalls, ferns, moss, and forest. A real treasure. This is Horsetail Falls. One of our family favorites when it comes to waterfalls.

I was thrilled to capture the vivid colors of fall with my "newish" camera.

I love the soothing sound of running water at Wahkeena Falls.

The older boys wanted to stay home for this trip, so we packed up the little ones and had a wonderful time.

Here is Steve with them. They loved playing on the bridge.

Anybody else notice that it is 11/11/11 today? Way cool!

Happy Veteran's Day to all of you who faithfully and unselfishly have served our country. I appreciate my freedom even though I seem to take it for granted everyday. I know freedom isn't free. Thank you for the sacrifice you and your family have made for me.

Fabulous Fall!

2011-11-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Jessica and Andrew buried Lily in a pile of leaves. She LOVED it!

The flower garden is starting to change colors.

The trees are starting to give up their leaves. It provides hours of fun for the little ones!

I'm enjoying playing with my new camera!

The colors are brilliant!

Jess took this picture of my last pansy. So pretty!

I have a few roses that are still hanging on. It was 28 degrees this morning, so I doubt it is still there.

Things I enjoy about fall:

Sweaters
Cooler weather
Warm colors everywhere
No more weeding!
Comfort foods like pumpkin bread and soups

Second Wind

2011-11-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

I finally feel like I'm getting a routine back when it comes to homeschooling. I can't believe how long it took me! Two months! It feels good now that everyone seems to have better attitudes and I'm finding out how the little ones want to be involved.

Lily is wanting to "play" school for a little while everyday.

Jacob asks me about three times a week if he can do his work. It is perfect!

Andrew is not struggling as much with his attitude and now is reading three letter words with greater ease. What a blessing!

Jess and I keep trying to hone our photography skills.

The kids still get quite a bit of exercise on our trampoline. The poor net is just wasted! I am now hanging it with baling twine. Hey, it works!!!

We went on a trip the other day through the Gorge. On the Old Highway, we found a dead beaver. The picture doesn't do it justice. The thing was huge! I wouldn't want to have hit it. The kids wanted me to take a picture of it. So here was our science for the day. Examining a dead beaver!

Pastor Steve's Mother- A Devotion

2011-10-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Mothers,

I was sitting in church and recognized Pastor Steve’s mother. She was directly in front of me. I felt like I needed to encourage her, so I introduced myself. I told her how much it touched me to see pictures of her on Facebook ministering to her son’s needs as he lay dying of cancer. I said that she was living a mother’s worst nightmare. I can’t imagine watching your child die in front of you and being unable to do anything about it. She was so full of peace. It was in her, through her and all around her. You could see it, almost touch it. Beautiful…

I went on to thank her for raising such an amazing man of God. She humbly said that there was a time where he had walked away from the Lord but, praise God, he had come back.

What a testament to mothering! It gave me such hope. I worry too much about my children rebelling and rejecting their faith. I want so much for them to not have to suffer. I want them not to struggle on that wide highway that leads to death. I want them to walk the narrow path that leads to life! Yet, it is their decision. They will have to choose just like I did.

This mother raised Pastor Steve in a Christian home. She gave him a godly foundation. Even when he walked the wrong path for a while, he knew the way home. After he was sufficiently humbled, God began to use him. For nine years, our whole church was on the receiving end of godly mothering!

What a powerful influence we have on these children God has gifted us with. Let us not take these years of training lightly. Even if you have grown children and are now in the grand-parenting stage, you can pour your motherly influence out upon them. We are commanded to do so. From generation to generation we are to proclaim His works!

Continue to teach them in love, even when they make huge mistakes. Continue to point them to Jesus. Continue to be a godly example to them, being above reproach in everything we say and do.

Most of all continue to pray for your children. Pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to them His plan for their lives. He has a task for each and every one of them to fulfill here on earth.

From One Mom to Another,

Reality Check-Reposted

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Mothers,

A few years ago, I received a HUGE reality check. I had been having a very hard time with my two-year old, Andrew. He kept making these gigantic messes every time I would turn around. I was getting more and more frustrated by the day and found myself getting very angry and being unkind to him. To make a long story as short as possible, we found him hanging one morning by his head on the outside of the top bunkbed rail. He had been that way for hours. When my oldest son found him and brought him to me, his jaw was flattened and his head deformed. I thought to myself as I was calling for help, “Our lives will never be the same again”. I thought maybe he had had a stroke or something. God was already working by the time I got up to the hospital. His eye was back in the right place and his jaw was starting to fill out again. The doctor said it was a miracle that he didn’t crush his windpipe. He had his head turned sideways just enough to where his jaw took the brunt of his body weight. Praise the Lord! After all of this had happened I knew the Lord was speaking to me. I prayed and asked to receive what He wanted to teach me. I felt him saying, “Messes are no big deal. Don’t take one moment for granted with these precious gifts I have given to you. In a second they could be gone.” REALITY CHECK! God spared Andrew’s life and answered our prayers and given him a full recovery. Andrew just came up to me yesterday and told me that he had a "hole" in his head. I felt along his skull and sure enough is an indention that is about two inches wide from the rail of that bunk bed. SCARY!!!

My husband is a firefighter/paramedic. When he comes home in the morning and I sometimes tell him some of the annoying things the kids do, or have a list of complaints ready to fire off of how bad my day was, sometimes he just looks at me and says, “Are the kids breathing? Are they hurt? No? Well, it’s a good day then.” Then he will proceed to tell me of a horrible call he went on. Again, REALITY CHECK!

Are your kids warm in the beds? Do they have shelter? Do they have food in their tummies? Yes? Well, then it’s a good day! Think of all the mothers around the world who don’t know what they are going to feed their children for the next meal. Think of the orphans that are sifting through garbage just to survive! We do not have it bad at all, do we? God has blessed this nation, but we grow complacent until we have a reality check!

Stop and thank God right now, for all that you have. Be content with it. Be thankful that God has given you the gift of your children. Do not wait for Him to shake you out of your complacency! It’s not fun, trust me! Ask Him to teach you to “number your days correctly.”

God loves you so very much! He is so merciful! He is worthy of praise!

From One Mom to Another,

Father/Children trip to the Beach

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned before that Steve took the kids to the beach and gave me a week long break. He met up with his parents at a beach house. They had an amazing time and the weather wasn't too bad for being late October.

Apparently, they dug LOTS of fox holes! Steve even went and bought another shovel so they wouldn't fight.

Steve and the kids love to go to Fort Stevens and play around on the jeeps, guns and other military equipment.

I'm so glad they had fun. The dynamics are always different when Mom isn't around. Very eye-opening for everyone. Glad I was missed!

My Pretty Lily

2011-10-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Lily is all girl! Jessica dressed her up as a ballerina here and found some costume jewelry.

She loved the little ballet slippers someone gave us!

I couldn't believe how pretty her hair looked when we put it up. It is getting so long! I've never had a girl with blond curls before. It just to die for!

Showing us her tummy.

She had fun swinging at the beach at Seaside, Oregon whilst on vacation with her Daddy.

"Put 'em up, put 'em up!" It looks like Dad forgot to wash her face. Those are the things you gotta let go of when your hubby decides to give you a four day break! Not many men would take six kids on vacation even if they were meeting their in-laws there! Thanks, Steve!!!

Stacie's Bread/Roll/Pizza Dough recipe DOUBLED!

2011-10-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

Stacie's Bread/Roll/ Pizza Dough Bread Machine Recipe (Doubled)

4 2/3 cups flour (I use half white flour and half hard-winter red wheat flour)

2 cups of water

2 tsps salt

2 TBS honey

2 TBS olive oil

2 1/2 tsps dry-active yeast

Use dough cycle. When cycle is finished (mine is 1 1/2 hours) divide dough and make any of these combonations:

two pizza doughs

two loaves of bread

one loaf of bread and one pizza dough

one loaf of bread and one pan of rolls

(You get the picture)

When I am doing two loaves at a time, I let it raise for at least 30 minutes and then I bake them at 400 degrees for 23 minutes.

If you choose to use all whole wheat then add 2 to 3 tsps of gluten. It will raise better.

I adapted this from an old French bread recipe I had. I love it because it doesn't have eggs in it.

I thought I would post this again. I have had several people ask for it again. This recipe is so easy that even my Marcus can make it!

My Musings-Playing Catch Up

2011-10-16T07:08:00.000-07:00

There is a crispness in the air and it is raining outside right now. Fall is officially here and we have entered into a brand new season. I have been busy processing the last of the garden, but sadly neglecting my flowers. I have golfer's elbow and my tendons throughout my right arm and shoulder are swollen and inflamed from painting the outside of the house with a broken roller. It is pinching a nerve. I am starting physical therapy and am praying for some relief. It has been very painful and is affecting my sleep.

I am missing my Beth Moore studies. As I wait for her study of James to come in November, I am trying some smaller ones. They just aren't the same. Even though sometimes I get annoyed at the flipping back and forth from this scripture to that scripture, I find that I am missing it. It challenges me. Beth makes me find the answers myself and I love her style.

No, this isn't my little girl flitting here and there...

It is Jacob! Jessica got this outfit from a friend and decided to dress her little brother up in it. He would make a cute girl though with those cheeks. Glad he isn't, though. I love having four boys!

Jacob, dirty shirt and all. I can't believe how this kid can get dirty so fast!

Marcus forgot to shave (LOL)! He found this fake mustache at the Dollar store. We have had a lot of fun teasing him. I make him take it off when we go out though.

I like mustaches. I think he will look good with one eventually. The boys are obsessed right now with their body hair! Who has the most? Is it enough? When will I get more?

Steve has been working a ton lately so I have been by myself with the kids. The pressure of having all the kids by myself for most of the last two months is starting to wear me out. I am also dealing with the constant pain in my arm giving me little sleep. I have been tired and cranky and not very pleasant to be around.

Homeschooling is going better. The worst thing is having to deal with Lily's fits in the middle of a lecture. I hate to do it, but I put on an educational movie when I know I have to lecture. It is the only way we can all concentrate. She is going through a stage right now of hysterical fit-throwing. I have never had a kid throw tantrums. I am finding her to be completely different in the area of emotions. She is HIGHLY emotional!

I haven't blogging as much. Trying to keep my head in the game and not use blogging as a form of escape. It is so easy to do.

My hubby has taken the kids to the beach for a vacation with his parents and given me the week off! I am visiting my sister and then going to a women's retreat. I am so looking forward to it! I can't wait to spend some one on one time with the Lord where I can really focus on Him without the distractions that I normally face. Praying that He will reveal some stuff to me that I am not aware of or give me the tools to change the things I am aware. I am grateful to my husband for allowing me to go, my mom for watching the kids and the person who paid my way because she wanted me to be there. What a blessing!

That's all for now. The kids are starting fuss, I need to get in a shower and discipline the kids that are ignoring my instructions. Yep, that's my life! But it is good...

My Budding Photographer

2011-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

The other day, Jessica asked if she could borrow my camera and take some pictures outside.

I was pleasantly surprised when she began to show me her pictures.

After sorting through some blurring ones, we selected these for the blog.

I am impressed with her close-ups. She really has an eye for it.

This one is one of my favorities! These asters add some color to the now brown and yellow yard.

Since the flower garden is winding down, I wasn't sure what she was going to take pictures of. She did manage to find some color still out there.

This one is my favorite!!!! I love how it is slightly off center.

Measure Your Response to His Reproof

2011-10-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

You Know That You are Receiving Reproof From Your Husband Sinfully When...

1. You become angry and lash out at him.

2. You feel hurt, resentful, and unforgiving.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also have forgiven you.-Ephesians 4:31-32

3. You focus on the things he is doing wrong.

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eyes, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eyes.- Matthew 7:5

4. You suffer intense person hurt.

...He (God) disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. -Hebrews 12:10-11

Any reproof may be humiliating and may make you feel badly. However, do not add to your personal hurt by reacting sinfully. If you do not respond with humility and gentleness, you compound your sin. Even if your husband reproves you in an angry and unkind manner, you are still responsible before God for how you respond back.

It is never pleasant to realize that other people see you as less than perfect. It is humiliating. However, "...all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11). the "yield" of the fruit will depend in a large measure in how humbly a husband and wife give and receive reproof. If they love the Lord Jesus Christ, they will participate in and submit to the process of mutual sanctification. Helping each other become more like Christ so that they can glorify Him more is God's purpose in marriage.

Taken from "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Pierce.

I hope you have been challenged by this little series. I know I have. Now we need to ask God to put it into practice and change your marriages! May God be glorified by the fruit.

Guidelines for Reproving Your Husband

2011-10-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

If you read the post "When Your Husband Reproves You" then you are probably wondering well, what about me? What if I am the one who gets sinned against?

If your husband sins against you then you have a biblical responsibility to reprove him. There are guidelines though.

1. Choose the right time.

The wrong times are when you are in front of others, when you have a sinful attitude, or when he cannot give your his undivided attention. The right times are when you are alone together, feeling well and rested, there is plenty of time to talk, and you are in control of yourself and reliant upon the Holy Spirit and God's Word for directing your thoughts and actions.

2. Choose the right wording.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil. -Proverbs 15:28

Begin by thinking about what you want to say. It may even be wise to write it out and then practice it out loud. If you are in doubt about the content or how you are expressing the reproof, ask an objective, godly person such as an older woman in the church, who can be trusted, to read it and give her opinion.

3. Comfort him as you correct him. Give him hope that he can change and that you are devoted to him.

4. Be specific regarding his sin and offer a biblical solution.

For example, "Honey, I have noticed that you have been irritable and harsh with "Susie lately. I know she is at a difficult age and needs to be disciplined, but '...the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God' (James 1:20). Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?"

5. Communicate a spirit of unconditional love.

If your husband is a Christian, then you are responsible before God to gently, lovingly tell him his fault. After all, "Love rejoices in the truth, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness" -I Corinthians 13:6.

As difficult as it is to give someone a godly reproof, it is usually more difficult to humbly receive one. How you receive reproof will be one measure of your maturity in Christ.

Next up, "You can Know that You are Receiving Reproof From Your husband Sinfully When..."H

(Excerpt taken from "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Pierce)

When Your Husband Reproofs You

2011-10-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

When a reproof is done privately with gentleness and with the motive of restoring the other person, then the reproof is loving. When a person won't reprove their partner, they are, most likely, more concerned about "What effect is this going to have on me?" rather than being concerned about helping their partner. This kind of reaction is selfish and unloving. If they love God and their partner, they will, in a righteous way, biblically reprove each other in love.

How you respond to your husband's reproof is a reflection of your desire to become more godly. Begin with considering his reproof to be, at the least, possibly valid. Next, consider the following right ways to respond to reproof.

The Right Way to Respond to Reproof...

1. Take the time to think about what you have been told.

The heart of the righteous ponder how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. -Proverbs 15:28

2. Search the Scriptures to determine what the sin is and how to "put it off."

...lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self...-Ephesians 4:22-24

3. Ask your husband husband to give specific examples of how you could have better responded to his reproof.

4. Confess your sin.

5. Show the fruit of repentance. Stop doing the sin and start doing the right thing.

6. Do not justify or defend yourself.

If you know that your husband's reproof is valid or even partially valid then heed his advice and change your sinful way.

Listen and learn from the reproof. Think, "What is God trying to teach?" Learn to see each other's reproofs from God's perspective and be grateful that your husband is telling his complaint instead of clamming up and becoming embittered because of your sin.

Taken from the "Excellent Wife" by Martha Pierce.
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As I read this passage, I was so convicted. I couldn't believe that she was challenging me to actually be GRATEFUL for my husband for getting after me. I am always defensive, thinking that his sins are so much worse than mine. I have a very bad habit of disregarding anything he has to say to me if he does not do it gently or humbling.

After reading this section, I had the opportunity to put this into practice. My husband was upset at me for something and instead of getting defensive, I actually stopped, took a deep breath and listened (can you hear the angels singing?). I thought through what he was saying and examined it to see if there was any truth to it. I found that there was. I stopped thinking about all the things that he wasn't doing right and stopped to worry about me. I apologized and told him that now that I am aware of the problem, I will try not to do it. We even came up with some strategies for change. Because I was open to change, I was able to say some hard stuff to him. We both grew that day!

Next will be "Guidelines for Reproving Your Husband". So stay tuned!

Acceptance

2011-10-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved the excerpt that I read in my devotions the other day.

"The promises of God's love and forgiveness are as real, as sure, as positive as human words can make them. but like describing the ocean, its total beauty cannot be understood until it is actually seen.
It is the same with God's love. Until you actually accept it, until you actually experience it, until you actually possess true peace with God, no one can describe its wonders to you.

It is not something that you can do with your mind. Your finite mind is not capable of dealing with anything as great as the love of God. Your mind might have difficulty explaining how a black cow can eat green grass and give white milk-but you drink the milk and are nourished by it. Your mind can't reason through all the intricate processes that take place when you plant a small flat seed and it produces a huge vine, bearing luscious red and green watermelons-but you eat them and enjoy them! You can't understand radio, but you listen. Your mind can't explain the electricity that may be creating the light by which you are reading at this very moment-but you know that it's there and that it is making it possible for you to read!"

-From Peace with God by Billy Graham

God Needs YOU!!!

2011-09-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

"Most believers are convinced that it is the pastor's responsibility to bring people into the church as well as into the kingdom of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Scripture is clear on this point. Pastors were given by God to the church to equip the people to do the work....Sermons are not God's primary method for reaching people. People are His method for reaching people. What kind of people? Men and women whose lives and life-styles have been deeply affected by the truths of Scripture, people who have discovered the wonderful Spirit-filled life.

God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with "surviving" and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life.

God's method for reaching this generation and every generation, is not preachers and sermons. It is Christians whose life-styles are empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit. People are the key to reaching people!"

Taken from "The Wonderful Spirit-filled Life" by Charles Stanley

Well Done, Pastor Steve

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Early Saturday morning our beloved Pastor Steve was ushered into heaven. After battling colon cancer for two and a half years, he is at peace and his body is completely healed. It is bittersweet as we know his family will miss this goofy, lovable man so much, yet, we all hated to see him suffer.

Pastor Steve was unpretentious and completely humble. Our church needed this desperately. He taught us how to love one another, to avoid vain and foolish arguments. He had endless football stories that he used as analogies that were lost on me (I hate football), but I'm sure every guy in that room could relate. He loved God, his family, skiing and French fries.

The night he died was strange. We knew that it would be within 12-24 hours. I heard a bump and woke up with a start 12:00 a.m. I started praying, but felt something dark. I kept praying and asking God if there was something specific that He wanted me to pray. I finally gave up and asked the Holy Spirit to pray with words and groanings that I couldn't express. I had a vision of a dozen angels hovering in the room with Pastor Steve. There was something dark and menacing in there as I sensed there was a spiritual battle going on. I knew that the enemy was angry at this servant of God. Pastor Steve had done well. He hadn't forsaken his faith throughout his illness. He grew stronger in the Lord. He became a living, breathing testimony for us. Those angels where just hovering though as if to say, "Come on, come on, we can't wait to usher you into heaven!" They were so excited!

Finally, about 3:00 p.m. I had peace again. I was able to go back to sleep. Later that morning we found out that God took him home around 2:30 that morning. Oh my, the fact that He chose me to pray for this family during the night (as I'm sure many others were) humbled me and astounded me at the same time. I will be forever grateful to be able to pray for Pastor Steve and his family at that time.

"O Grave, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?"

You have not won! You have lost. Pastor Steve is dancing in the streets and singing (something he always wished he could do) with a heavenly choir. He loved music!

You did it, Pastor Steve. You finished well. We watched and learned from you. We will never be the same.

You just have heaven before we do.

Doing What We Ought to Do

2011-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Martha Pierce says in "An Excellent Wife"...

"God wants us to stop living for ourselves, to stop destroying relationships and to start living for Him. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth saying '...that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf'-II Corinthians 5:15.

It is easy to live for yourself, but ultimately unfulfilling and empty. You may be thinking, 'I'm willing to work at having a close relationship with my husband, but he is not.' If he is unwilling to communicate or is cruel and yet you respond in a godly manner, you will be suffering for righteousness sake and God will meet your needs. God is the one to look to.

As you look to God and desire to have a normal relationship with your husband, you must become like and act like Jesus. In order to be like Christ, you must think as well as act like Christ. To accomplish this goal, your motivation must change from 'What can I get out of this?' to 'What can I give?' Hence you should expect no thanks or recognition. You are just doing your minimal duty to God. Jesus compared us to the slave who was only doing what he ought:

"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say 'we are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done." -Luke 17:10

Giving of yourself to your husband is not going above and beyond the call of duty. it is only doing as you ought. You out to be kind to your husband. You ought to be open, transparent, and honest with him. Your words are to be edifying. Your tasks sacrificial. Your motive is for the glory of God."
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Those are some very challenging words for me. Lately, I have been wanting recognition. I want to be told that I am doing a good job. I have even told him such. But my husband views it differently. He feels that it is an insecurity in me that needs that affirmation. I believe it is a need for encouragement. So what do you do with that?

Well, you do what this says to do. You move on and you let God fill you up. You measure what you are doing against God and look for His approval, not my husband's, not my family, nor my friends.

My Psalm

2011-09-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted this until now, because I'm still working through it. Ever since starting our homeschool up at the beginning of September, I have never felt so overwhelmed. I enjoyed my summer break so much, but now getting back into the groove seems harder than ever.

I am having trouble staying focused. I have never been more tempted to put my kids in school. I loved having all that free time. I loved spending time playing with the kids. Now it feels like I am back to square one as far as disciplining for attitudes and such.

I find that I am feeling sorry for myself a LOT. I guess I am in some sort of funk. What is weird, is that the kids haven't had worse attitudes than they ever have had when it come to their schoolwork. But it does seem that every child is going through some sort of "stage". Name-calling seems to be the big thing right now. "Liar", "Meany", "Brat", "Tattle-tale". Jacob is constantly yelling "stop" to everyone in a very loud, whiny voice.

God is getting my attention. As I am in this struggle of feeling like I am failing from the very second I wake up, He is there, trying to get to me to see the wonderful blessings of raising children for Him.

The more I come to the end of myself, the more I realize that I cannot raise these children by myself. I can't make them have good attitudes or get along or to even love each other. I can't make them make good decisions. I can encourage those things, but I can't make it happen.

Only God can do it. Only God can give me wisdom and the strength that I need. Only God can give me the perspective that I need, a holy one, a truthful one.

I couldn't stop sobbing as I read "The End of the Spear" by Steve Saint. The part when his precious, only daughter died at age 23 when her brain vessel blew unexpectedly. It was gut-wrenching. A parent's worst nightmare. Why then, do I struggle so much with such little things, when people are going through big things? What if something big where to happen? Why can't I be content and joyful when I have such small, tiny problems?

The answer is this. I am ungrateful. I am focused on the wrong things. I am focused on the weeds in my children's lives, instead of the flowers. I HAVE to change my focus. I have to start getting my joy back.

I feel like this post is sort of a Psalm.

It starts off with the bad, the honesty of what I am feeling, but by the end of it, I realize that my hope does come from the Maker of Heaven and earth.

Make me grateful, God! Make me a lover of You! Make me see the good things that are around me!

I love you, Lord and my hope is in You all day long.

Civil War Camp-2011

2011-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

We were blessed to be able to get a bunkhouse at a nearby military camp called Camp Rilea. Super-cheap and way better than a tent! There is a lot of cleaning involved, so we put Josh to work sweeping the floor. He was thrilled! LOL!

It's a big room with a two-stalled shower and two toilets. Perfect for a large family!

I caught Josiah and Andrew walking away with their guns...

and a big, buddy hug! So cute!

I know that this dress is a colonial dress, but it was all we had. I bought a bonnet and a little purse for her. She loved dressing up, which kind of surprised me.

Jess, Jackie and I were drooling over the dresses. I had never seen such a selection in the "stores". The business must be booming! Jackie got a really good deal on one! I'm sure she will be posting it soon at www.homesteadwannabes.blogspot.com

I bought Andrew a die cast pistol with some caps. He was in heaven!!!

More dresses!!! It was pretty warm out. I can't imagine wearing this kind of stuff down in the South.

One of the Confederates let Andrew hold his "big" rifle. Man, are they heavy!

Here, Josiah got "caught" by a Confederate Soldier. He was wearing the wrong uniform in the wrong camp. It was cute watching this big, boorish soldier come at him. I've never seen him so unsure of himself. He handled it politely though.

Next year, I think we are going to try to make it to the WWII reenactment. We have two boys that are obsessed with WWII! Can't wait to see how they do it.

Fort Steven's Civil War Reenactment-2011

2011-09-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

I was able to take three of the older children with me and go with my sister and her family to the coast this year for the reenactment.

I LOVE to go to these things. I think this was my fourth time. It is the largest of these events in the Northwest. History is very cool and I love to see how people recreate it. It is very educational and a great "field trip". These soldiers are from the "Highland" unit.

Here are the Rebels facing the Union Calvary.

Getting ready to engage.

A poignant reminder of what the battlefield might have looked like. What a waste of young men.

I always enjoy watching the armies fire their cannons.

We were blessed to be able to be there the whole day. The weather was terrific! We got to watch both battles. One was a recreation of the battle where the commander Stevens, fell. It was interesting. The flag fell to the ground and you could hear the vets in the audience say, "Get your colors up"!!! My brother-in-law, Michael couldn't stand it any longer as some of the soldiers actually walked over the flag. He got up and SCREAMED it. I was so proud of him. That flag means something to him. He has served over in Iraq and he said that would have never happened.

Marcus Turns 11!!!

2011-09-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Marcus,

What a year you have had! God has been working in your life as you grow in wisdom and in stature. You quit TKD, but then decided that you really did like it. You have excelled and we anxiously wait for you to do your belt test. I know you will pass with flying colors. You did your first TKD tournament and sparring this year. You did a great job! Even though you didn't win, you learned some valuable life-lessons.

You are such a good big brother! You are so helpful with the little ones. I love that you can teach them math or phonics while I'm busy working with another child. You are getting proficient in the kitchen as well. Making popcorn, pancakes and such. You are a big help to me when I'm not feeling good. You were also invaluable to me when I had my foot surgery. You tender compassion and mercy helped so much as you helped take over the household chores. I can't thank you enough for that!

You are such a character. Loud, funny and a quick-thinker like your father. You always find the humor in every situation.

More importantly, we can be honest with each other in spiritual matters. You keep me accountable when you see me start to lose it. I love it when you are struggling with something and you ask me to pray for you. I see such spiritual growth in you, Marcus. I don't know many ten-year olds that attempt to do a Beth Moore study. You have said to me this year that you believe God has called you to be a pastor. I can very much see that happened someday in His time. In the meantime, we continue to get "self" out of the way so that we can see God work. I am excited to watch you get baptized next week!

I encourage you to continue to walk in the Spirit, work on your anger and to put things in to perspective when stuff starts to build up. Let us both examine our reactions to different situations and see if they are godly responses.

Thank you, Son, for making me a better Christian. I look forward to growing in the Lord with you this year.

May God's blessing be upon you! Happy Birthday!!!

Love,

Mom

Pastor Steve Update-It is Well...

2011-09-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

This is the latest update on our Dear Pastor Steve, written by his wife.

brief update on Steve:

- nausea is under control at this time

- sleeps 90-95% of the day

- pain is well managed

- becoming more confused and easily becomes anxious

- still has a sense of humor!

- still has that beautiful look of love when I gaze into his eyes!!

- he is very weak; can no longer walk; is able to stand and pivot with help

- LOVES LOVES LOVES popsicles!!

- eating and drinking very little!!

- probably on the "home-stretch" of his live on earth!

- does not want to leave his friends and family, but is ready for the ULTIMATE HEALING!!

- His motto: FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN!

Please keep us in your prayers as we help Steve finish strong. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Steve will hear these precious words from our Father in Heaven, "WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!"

In the midst of our pain and sorrow, I can say It Is Well With My Soul!

Disclaimer: It is not well with my heart, my mind, my emotions, my security, my hopes, my dreams, my future, my comfort, my experience, my family, my friends, my ANYTHING except my soul.

Thankful for a God who will never leave me or forsake me, and who has promised a place of no more tears, no more sorrow, and no more pain!

Love,

Marilyn

The Unworthy Goal of Raising Well-Behaved Children

2011-09-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Some parents succumb to the pressure to raise well-behaved kids. We help them develop poise. We teach them to converse. We want children who possess social graces. We want them to be able to make guests comfortable. We want them to be able to respond with grace under pressure. We know that these skills are necessary to be successful in our world. It pleases us to see these social graces in our children.

Yet, having well-behaved children is not a worthy goal. It is a great secondary benefit of biblical childrearing, but an unworthy goal in itself.

You cannot response to your children to please someone else. The temptations to do so are numerous. Every parent has faced the pressure to correct a son or daughter because others deemed it appropriate. Perhaps you were with a group where Junior did or said something that you understood and were comfortable with, but that was unquestionably misread by others in the room. Stabbed by their daggers of disapproval, you felt the need to correct him for the sake of others. If you acquiesce, your parenting focus becomes behavior. This obscures dealing biblically with Junior's heart. the burning issue becomes what they think rather than what God thinks. Patience, godly correction is precluded by the urgent pressure to change behavior. if your goal is well-behaved kids, you are open to hundreds of temptations to expediency.

(Taken from Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp)

When I read this I felt something pierce my heart. I knew I was guilty of this. When my children say or do something that makes me want to crawl into a hole and disappear, I immediately feel extreme pressure to correct or punish on the spot, instead of taking that child to the side and explaining why it may or may not be appropriate in a certain crowd. So many times, it is truly in innocence that they say those kinds of things. Like the time Marcus made fun of Buddha in his Tae Kwon Do class. He said, "I don't know why anyone would want to worship a fat, bald guy." He had no idea that there were three children in front of him that had been baptized in a Buddhist Temple. That day, three adults came down hard on him. His teacher, His father and me. We were too hard. He assumed everyone in the homeschool TKD class were Christians. We learned a lesson that day. But out of my own embarrassment I know I took it out of proportion.

I'm going to really try to work on this. I need to be thinking about my child's heart. Is it truly rebellion, or a lack of understanding? You know, those kinds of things.

Joshua Turns 13!!!

2011-09-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Joshua,

The day came. It is finally here. You are a teenager. I can no longer say, "But you aren't quite a teenager yet!" when you ask for more freedom. You are. You are. How did this happen so fast?

I am now thinking so much about the few years I have left to teach you all you need to learn to survive in this ol' world. I hope I'm doing a good job. I have to trust God that He will give you everything that you need.

This year has been full of ups and downs. I watch you struggle with your faith and the pull of the world. It is hard to watch. I pray for you. I've come to realize now that I really have no control in this area. God has to do the wooing. And if I give you to Him, it is a beautiful thing to watch. I know you love Him. This year I've seen you worship Him for the first time in Spirit and in Truth.

You are so worried that you aren't strong enough, your voice isn't deep enough, you don't have enough arm pit hair! I keep telling you, it will all come and to try not to compare yourself with your friends. I personally, have seen how you are turning slowly into a man. I can't believe that you are now stronger than me and I do rely on you a lot when Dad is unavailable. You are a HUGE help to me!

You are desperate to be taller than me! In this picture you kept standing on your tippy toes. Pretty soon, you will be flying past me in that regard!

So Happy Birthday to my young man. You get the privilege of being the FIRST teenager of all the kids. They all look up to you and I pray that you will show them how it is done. I pray also that you continue to build trust so that you will always been able to have loads of freedom as you grow older.

I pray that you will grow in all "wisdom and stature" just as our Lord Jesus did. I pray that you will rely on God, that you will turn to Him when you are angry, hurting, or need wisdom. I pray that you will love the Lord Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Make righteousness your passion. Remember that the world is not here to entertain you. You are here for a purpose. To love and serve God. To find out what His calling is for you.

Remember, I am here. I am available. I will listen even if I might not agree with you.

May you enjoy your day, my special one!

Love,

Mom

The Will Of God For Every Wife

2011-09-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

(Picture taken at the Civil War reenactment at Fort Stevens. I just thought this couple looked so sweet together)

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God's will for every Christian wife is that her most important ministry be to her husband (Genesis 2:18). After a wife's own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing else should have greater priority. Her husband should be the primary benefactor of her his wife's time and energy, not the recipient of what may be left over at the end of the day. Whether her husband is a faithful Christian or an unbeliever, God wants every Christian woman to be a godly wife-an excellent wife.

This truth is so important to God that He has clearly and completely revealed it in His Word, the Bible. Indeed the Scriptures alone are sufficient to provide the wisdom wives need for living the Christian life. One of the most important Scripture passages concerning God's will for the Christian wife is Proverbs 31.

An Excellent Wife is...

1. Respectful to her Husband.
2. Trusted
3. Kind
4. Fears the Lord
5. Blessed by Her Children
6. Careful
7. Praised
8. Not Afraid
9. Worker with Hands
10. Wise
11. Generous
12. Good to Her Husband.
13. Of Exceptional Worth

What a glorious reflection of God a woman becomes as she develops her ministry as a godly wife! Ask yourself , "Are these the qualities I want in my life?"

The good news is that any Christian woman who knows and obeys this passage of Scripture can become a godly woman, and excellent wife. A wife's responsibility is to learn to put her confidence in the faithfulness of God and His Word-to do what He says. She can become what He wants her to become if she does what He wants her to do. There is not other way!

Many wives look at the list and feel overwhelmed and condemned. If you are a Believer you have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you. He will enable you to obey his commands and to submit to His ways.

(Taken from "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace)

Playing School

2011-09-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

I think the children were actually missing school. All last week on their own, they started lining up our "new to us" desks in the homeschool room. Josh and Marcus started teaching the littler ones. It was really cute!

Josh made his own map of Europe, complete with flags and symbols. He loves military maps.

I am always amazed at how my children use their imaginations. Even though they say they are not looking forward to starting up school (which is today), secretly I think they like to learn new things and have a routine.

I'm so thankful that the Lord gave me a fresh vision for my homeschool. I didn't know it, but I was getting burned out. This whole summer He has made me face my impatience. My impatience is the root of my anger. I am thankful that it has been revealed, but it is my choice now to allow the Holy Spirit to help me.

I continue to let Him undo me, take me apart, and stitch me back together again His way and in His time.

I am grateful for the priviledge be homeschooling. I am also grateful that this is HIS homeschool and not mine. All glory be to Him!!!

Impromptu Baptism

2011-09-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Marcus had asked awhile back to get baptized. It just hadn't worked out with everything that is going on in our church right now. Our senior pastor is in the final stages with his battle with colon cancer. We have put it off since late winter. Jessica asked me the other night if I could baptize her right NOW.

I thought it about it before I answered her. I thought of all the VOM pictures of people getting baptized in kiddie pools, oceans and such. I also felt the Lord say in my spirit, "Do not prevent the little children from coming to me." So I said yes.

Steve of course was working, so I was on my own. I filled up the bathtub and gathered the older ones around me. It was beautiful as I prayed with them and baptized them in "the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Here is Marcus. I was so proud of him for making this decision.

Josh surprised me and said he wanted to do it as well. I was thrilled! The other ones cheered when they came up out of the water. It was very special.

We went ahead and talked with our pastor and they will be officially baptized by him in September. I'm so glad I had this special moment with my children. It felt like I was experiencing some of the fruit of my labors of teaching them about the Lord.

Voice of The Martyrs VBS

2011-09-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Last year I was reading my VOM magazine and I saw their new VBS curriculum. I was super-excited and went ahead and purchased it. I prayed that our church would be willing to do it. They got on board and put on an amazing VBS!

I was the "AWARENESS LEADER", my job was to teach the children about what Christians are going through around the world. Some of the men in our church created this jail cell for me to take the kids into. They used a liner from a truck bed. Can you believe it? It was perfect! As I brought the children in, I asked a lot of hard questions. I made them think about what it would be like to really be in jail.

Here we all are packed in the jail. We are singing and witnessing to our prison guard.

They kids did super job memorizing their verses!

This is our "underground Sunday school". The kids had to go through a tunnel to get into this dark room. We had streamers up as a decoy. When the "police" came, we had a birthday party. We had LED candles and made the room look dark and a little spooky. They kids LOVED it! We talked about what it would be like to meet in a secret place to worship the Lord. We sang "Jesus Loves Me" silently so we wouldn't alert the "police". I showed them pictures of churches that had been burned down, and people worshipping in their homes or in caves. Most of them had no idea that Christians had to endure such things just to get to church.

My biggest question to the kids was this...

Why do they bother? Why do they continue to risk their lives just so they can be together and worship?

The answer is that God made the Body of Christ to need each other. We are meant to encourage and edify one another. We are not to "forsake meeting together".

This VBS is different from any I've ever attended. There were not a bunch of bells and whistles, "stores", toys and such. It was not about the kids, it was about others. It was about the suffering saints all around the world.

The kids even raised enough money ($500) to launch a balloon into North Korea that releases 10,000 scriptures! This is one of the most closed off countries of the world! Imagine the Word of God spreading like wildfire among it's people!

I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of it and the highlight of the week was leading five children to the Lord. I've been praying for years to lead someone to Christ. God gave me five in one day! He is so good!!!

If you are looking for a good VBS curriculum, click here.

Nothing Withheld

2011-08-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

"Our safety, joy, fulfillment, and wholeness are all found in allowing God to completely invade our through and through. Nothing withheld. Nothing off-limits. No part of our lives from birth to death. No part of our beings from conscious to sub-conscious. No part of our minds. No part of our emotions. Through and through.

I don't mean perfected. I just mean surrendered and under the safekeeping of God's dominion. Sanctification basically means set apart. Anything of our experiences, issues, or weaknesses that we don't deliberately set apart to the safekeeping of Christ's dominion sits like a wide-open target under the nose of the lion (the devil)."

-Beth Moore (Taken from When Godly People Do Ungodly Things).

My Musings

2011-08-25T04:56:00.000-07:00

This is sort of a mix and match catch up post of some of my favorite pictures I've taken this summer. Here is Lily pretending she is talking to Mommy.

I took some pictures of some beautiful daisies and yellow roses that were in a garden at a wedding I sang at.

I was so blessed when I was asked to sing "O Lord, Your Beautiful" accapella. It was a lovely, Christian event.

Lily is in the process of potty-training. It has been quite easy so far. It has been all her idea. We went and got big-girl underwear and a toy that she gets to play with whenever she pees or poops in the toilet. If she has an accident, it gets taken away, but put in a well-viewed place. This is how I have managed to potty-train all my children with great success. It takes the stress out of it!

We went to go see the Herman the Sturgeon at Bonneville Dam. They had a huge row of lavender that was stunning!

Silly faces on a silly girl!

Jacob and Lily and I.

The kids have been using their imaginations lately. Taking the summer off from school has left us a lot more down time. I think he was a "gunner" in a "tank". I just love it!

Camping With the Kids

2011-08-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

This summer I took my first ever camping trip without Steve. My brother and Dad really helped me a lot with setting up the tent and the heavy stuff. It was such a blessing!

We spent three days basking in sunshine, riding 4-wheelers, playing in the creek, and just plain old talking and teasing one another. We are blessed to have a family who gets along and likes to spend time with each other.

My brother-in-law and I gave the kids some lessons on shooting my old .22 and some gun safety. They had a BLAST!!!!

Isn't it just beautiful? I love the green grass and beautiful mountains behind the little cabin nestled in the valley.

Released From Bondage

2011-08-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

Another excerpt from When Godly People Do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore.

"Satan tries to corrupt thoughts to manipulate feelings. He knows that the nature of humankind is to act out of how we feel rather than what we know. One of our most important defenses against satanic influence is learning to behave out of what we know is truth rather than what we feel. Satan's desire is to modify human behavior to accomplish his unholy purposes, 2 Timothy 2:26 states that Satan's objective is 'to take them captive to do his will.'

If we have received Christ as our Savior, Satan is forced to work from the outside rather than the inside. Thus, he manipulates outside influences to affect the inside decision-makers of the heart and mind."

But what happened in John 4 when the Bible talks about the woman at the well? We find that after being confronted with her sin, she was actually telling people what she did!!! She wasn't ashamed anymore. Do you know why?

Beth says, "Because when Christ takes authority over our pasts and we allow Him to confront them, treat them, and heal them, we exchange our shame for dignity! When Satan targets a believer who has wholehearted, sincere and pure devotion to Christ, he latches on to weakness more often than sin. You may be wondering, But what about the sins of our pasts? Beloved, one of the times when Satan pounced on me most ferociously and used my past sins against me, I had already repented of those sins. They could no longer be used as sins against me. But here's the catch: they were still weaknesses! Why? Because I had asked God to forgive me, but I had never asked God to heal me completely, redeem my past, restore my life, sanctify me entirely, and help me to forgive myself. Until I allowed God to take full authority over them in every way, my past sins-though turned from and forgiven-were still vulnerabilities where Satan could pray.

Thank goodness, my past sins aren't invitations to Satan anymore, and your don't have to be either. Trust Him with every inch of your past, present and future! Until you do, you are susceptible to seduction."

The LORD is More Powerful!

2011-08-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

I am doing a new study (well, new to me) by Beth Moore, called When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. It has been profound in many ways!

I can't wait to share bits of the study that have struck me to the very core of my being.

"Many believers have a wrong conception of Satan's power. They think he is somehow parallel to or as powerful as God. Satan is far more powerful, personal, and conniving than many of us thought. Let's be very careful, however, not to dream of giving Satan more credit than he is due. While he is tremendously potent, armed, and dangerous, he is not the equal of the Most High God.

The Lord of hosts maintains authority over ALL powers and principalities. Satan is merely a created being. That doesn't mean the evil one is not a threat. At our strongest moments we are no match for him. Only the Almighty Three-in-One can overpower Satan. We walk in the victory Christ won for us only when we are "strong in the Lord and his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

Why is he so furious? Because he knows his time is short. Because his ultimate fury is at God, nothing gives Satan greater unholy pleasure than assaulting God's children. Hence, our present conflict." -Beth Moore

This just proves to me why it is so important to be filled with the Spirit. I can't fight this battle on my own! It is impossible to win without the Lord. He is my defender, my protecter, my warrior, my love.

Thank you, LORD!!!

Homeschooling Article by "The Village Idiot" Jim Mullen

2011-08-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

I read this column in my local newspaper and was pleasantly surprised to see that homeschooling is even proving itself in the secular world. People ARE seeing a difference. This article cracked me up!

http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/todays_opinions/article_95297d2a-bde5-11e0-a392-001cc4c002e0.html

Because of copyrights, I couldn't reprint it, but you can check it out if you click on the link above.

I also have to share that when my sister and I's families went on an outing to Ritter Hot Springs, a lady came up to my sister and asked if we homeschooled. When Jackie said "yes", the lady said, "Do you want to know how I knew that?" She said, "The older children were treating the younger children with kindness and respect." WOW!!!! People notice these things! They are seeing a difference! Praise the Lord and praise God for the freedom to homeschool.

Rest

2011-08-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

I felt an urgency to share this message that the Lord is teaching me. I'm still on my blogging break, but couldn't resist leaving you with this.

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Dear Mothers,

When you think of the word "rest", what is conjured up in your mind? Is it lying under an umbrella on a sunny beach with a book in your hand? Is it a quiet retreat to the mountains with just you and your Bible? Is it losing yourself in a good movie? Or is it fantasizing about a maid to give you a plain old break from the blessed laundry pit?

According to my dictionary, "rest" means “freedom from activity or labor; peace of mind or spirit, to take relief or respite.

Doesn’t that just sound heavenly? Most days I find I am rushing around trying to get everything done quickly and efficiently. It has become a bad habit though, because I am constantly breaking things, stubbing my toes, smacking things, dropping things and generally making more of a mess for myself to clean up! Seriously, I am so busy trying to juggle four things in the air at once, while not doing any of them well. What is the result? The balls fall to the floor. I am accomplishing little.

In the Bible, Psalm 62:1 says, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” The Lord began speaking into my heart about rushing. “Slow down, Stacie,” I kept hearing Him say to my spirit. In between making the bread, homeschooling, cooking from scratch, laundry, disciplining, bills, errands, gardening and serving my family, I felt like there was no room for rest. I was so wrong.

God is now waking me up very early (usually via a two-year old). After getting her settled back down, I start my day with my Beth Moore Bible study and prayer. Armed with my cup of coffee and the Word of God, I get filled up and encouraged until my next “rest” time. Mid-morning, I try to force myself to sit down and read an encouraging article from a Christian magazine or book. In the afternoon I try to take enough time to debrief with my spiritual accountability partner (my sister). We pray, exhort and sometimes sympathize with each other. I am so blessed to have someone who is available to do this. And finally, in the evening before bed I go to bed I try to read a little bit of a good Christian book and pray again.

Filling my mind with the things of God all day long is huge for me. I don’t have to take a huge vacation (hey, vacations are a lot of work with kids) to rest. I need to be more deliberate and let God bring rest to me in the midst of the responsibilities He has given me.

Even a nursing mom can “rest”. When I was nursing I would read the Word or an encouraging article on godly parenting. Proverbs and Psalms were short and packed full of encouragement. Nursing was also my excuse to sit down. I could relax and just enjoy cuddling my baby who I knew was going to grow up way too fast.

Jeremiah 6:16 proves that God longs for us to have rest. He said we are the ones that won’t do it! Listen to this…“This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘I will not.’”

So why would we not want rest? May I suggest that our old habits and patterns are so comfortable, so familiar, that change threatens our very security. But, ladies, He is doing a NEW thing! Stress is literally killing this nation. Our calendars and day planners are proof of that. We want our children to be afforded every opportunity under the sun or we don’t think they will be complete and well-rounded.

What our children need are parents who are relaxed and rested. Children need to see you making room for God in your life. For example, I have always homeschool all year long. I loved doing it this way. I could take time off during the school year without feeling guilty. This is my sixth year in homeschooling and I am now up to four students. I felt the Lord leading me to take a break. The minute I obeyed, I felt such a sense of relief. This summer has been exceptionally busy and the Lord knew the children and I would need to rest. It was a decision based on obedience. God is blessing me and restoring me every day so that when September comes I will be strengthened and renewed to start my educating with a passionate vigor instead of just trudging through each day.

Make the decision to rest today and see how the Lord blesses you.

From One Mom to Another,

Taking a Break

2011-07-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

I feel like the Lord is leading me to take a bit of a break from blogging and FB. I don't know how long, that is something He has yet to reveal to me.

I'll leave you with a few pictures that are special to me. These are all my children and their cousins. They absolutely love each other and it is precious to watch them interact with one another.

Hailey is swinging on the tire swing. I love this angle!!

The newest picture of our family. My they are all growing up.

Andrew, minus a few teeth.

Here we all are. Dad and Diana with all their children and grandchildren. It is rare indeed when we can all get together.

There is a lot going on in my children's lives. I need to have some very serious and focused prayer time. I feel God calling me to Him. Please pray that God will give me the wisdom and discernment I need to love and serve my family in a more effective way.

I'll be back...:)

Homeschooling: Surviving or Thriving?

2011-07-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

Taken from Homeschooling the Challenging Child by Christine M. Field.

"If the 'results' of your homeschooling are not what you expected, remember that these children and this responsibility did not come from the Lord with a guarantee! If we do X, Y, and Z and do it faithfully to his glory, the results are always in his hands-not ours.

Maybe you have the pictures-perfect home school poster child. You are indeed blessed. you can be a beacon to the rest of us imperfect parents with imperfect children. Or perhaps you actually are paying a pretty high price to look good on the outside while hurting on the inside.

There are , in fact, a few guarantees in this endeavor. We are guaranteed that the Lord will walk beside us as we step out in faith each day. We are guaranteed that he will never leave us or forsake us in our time of challenge or need. We can rest in the guarantee that everything he allows into our lives is for his purposes.

While I may not be able to trade in my difficult life for an easier existence, I can rest in the assurance that I have all the guarantees I need, and I wouldn't exchange what He has given me for anything.

Each day I have the choice to survive or thrive. Even with God's assurance, some days are survival days. But if you spend more than a season in mere survival mode, take a hard look at your life. Don't just try to survive! Where is the victory there? We don't want to just stay alive-we want to make progress for the kingdom of God!

Psalm 127 tells us that our children are arrows (v.4). We don't launch the arrows off willy-nilly and let them land where they will. Nor do we pull an arrow out of the quiver, shoot it at a blank wall, and then run over and draw a target around the arrow. We want to launch them in such a way that they will make an impact for God.

Our children are our arrows, and our work with them is our ministry for this season of life. Like any ministry, we don't want to just survive. We want to shine for His glory!"

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I'm a mother who has a couple of challenging children when it comes to homeschooling. It is easy to just go with the flow and survive each day. I was completely convicted when I read this. I want to thrive in my home school.

This is the first summer that I really felt the Lord lead me to take an entire summer off. It has been a relief to not worry about homeschooling and feeling guilty when we don't. Our summer has been jam-packed with wonderful things that have been a catalyst for learning and growing. It has been heavenly to have a mental break from it all. I know when September rolls around, I will be refreshed and rearing to go with a new vision and energy that the Lord only gives.

I am enjoying cleaning and purging the house. Gardening and getting the outside of the house put back in shape has been immensely satisfying. We wait all year for the weather to be nice and now we can actually enjoy it!

If you are homeschooling, ask yourself, "Am I surviving or thriving?". If you are surviving, do something about it. God will give the wisdom of what needs to change in your life.

My Little Boy

2011-07-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,

Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,

With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,

Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.

They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while

Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.

And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy

Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

-author unknown

(Jacob at age four.)

Tractor Girl

2011-07-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

We had a professional photographer come out for Dad and Diana's 25th anniversary. He captured these precious pictures of Lily on the toy metal tractor in Diana's yard. I just love how sweet and innocent these pictures are.

Visiting Clara's Grave

2011-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Day, I wanted to do something special for Clara. You can read the story if you click on the link. We bought a cross with some flowers on it and cleared out some of the weeds so you could read the headstone again.

While we were at the pioneer cemetery, Lily found this baby sheep on the head stone and tried to hug it. I thought it was precious and could imagine the baby smiling down from heaven with approval.

Hopefully, this will become a tradition. It was a way to honor a special 9-year old girl who died so young.

We brought enough flowers to put on her brother's grave as well. His is in the background. The heart ache that these parents suffered must have been unimaginable. It is my way of honoring all parents who have suffered the loss of a child.

We were blessed that Steve was off work and could come with us. He enjoyed reading the headstones and recognizing some last names of some local farming families.

Hoping that this will be something we do more often. Next year, we want to locate Steve's first dad's grave and put some flowers on it. The children have never seen their grandpa's grave before.

Lovin' the Yard Sales This Year!

2011-07-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

This summer has been wonderful for yard sales! There seem to be more and more of them with our economy being down.

As you know, every firewife can't help herself when she runs into a cute fire engine. I found die cast metal toy and offered $5 for it! I couldn't believe she took it. It will make a cute decoration on the porch when the kids aren't playing with it.

I have been wanting a bistro set for ages, but couldn't justify the cost. I found this bistro set for $25! It looked brand new and it was the perfect size and color for my front porch. Now you can find me doing my devotions out here. I love being outside where I can see my flowers. I found that middle pot for $3 at another yard sale. The others are old canning pots that I filled with flowers. Snickers is in the foreground.

This milkcan had a little rust on it, but I got it for $10 at an estate sale. I put some flowers on the top of the lid. It was just deep enough.

I found this old coal bucket at the same estate sale. I filled it with flowers and put it in my herb garden.

I can't believe how much money I save when I go to yard sales. Someone's junk is my treasure!

Pure and Lovely

2011-07-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Do you long to be PURE and LOVELY?

Have you made some awful mistakes?

God sent His son, Jesus to PURIFY you. Forgiveness is just a prayer away.

"Create in me a PURE heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

- Psalm 51:10

His laws are for our good! When we stay under his umbrella of protection, we can stay PURE and LOVELY.

"The fear of the Lord is PURE, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much PURE gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."- Psalm 19:9-11

You don't have to be old and wise to be PURE. It is all about your heart. Be an example to your husband, children, friends and family. Show them how to live a PURE life. They will want the benefits that it brings. The peace of living in the center of God's Will.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in PURITY."-1 Timothy 5:12

No matter how old you are, you are more spiritually mature than someone else. This verse applies to everyone! Make this the goal of your life. Training and teaching other women to be LOVELY and PURE. What a world this would be!

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to too much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and PURE, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." -Titus 2:3-5

As this world gets more perverse, the world will sit up and take notice when they see a PURE life. While some would view a PURE life as offensive, others will long for the peace and joy that will be so evident.

What are your media choices? Are they PURE and LOVELY?
How is that thought life? Is it PURE and LOVELY?
What kinds of things pop out of your mouth when you are upset? Is your speech PURE and LOVELY?

I have this verse framed and on my wall.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."-Philippians 4:8

Let's let this govern everything we say and do!

Teaching Your Children to Glorify God

2011-07-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have finally read the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. It was very good and has had me thinking a lot about the "heart" of my parenting.

One of the questions was from the "Shorter Catechism".

Q.-What is the chief end of man?
A.-Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

"Is there any other goal that is worthy? Are you willing to start here with your children? You must equip your children to function in a culture that has abandoned the knowledge of God. If you teach them to use their abilities, aptitudes, talents and intelligence to make their lives better, without reference to God, you turn them away from God. If your objectives are anything other than 'Man's chief end is to glory God and enjoy Him forever,' you teach your children to function in the culture on its terms.

How do we do this? We pander to their desires and wishes. We teach them to find their soul's delight in going places and doing things. We attempt to satisfy their lust for excitement. We fill their young lives with distractions from God. We give them material things and take delight in their delight in possessions. Then we hope that somewhere down the line they will see that a life worth living is found only in knowing and serving God.

No wonder we lose our kids. We lose them because we fail to think clearly about man's chief end. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever; therefore, your objective in every context must be to set a biblical world-view before your children. From their earliest days, they must be taught that they are creatures made in the image of God-made for God. They must learn that they will only "find themselves" as they find Him. Your child must grow to see that real living is experienced when he stands before God and says, "Whom have I in heaven but? And being with you I desire nothing on earth" (Psalm 73:25). If this is what your want for your children, then you must ensure that the content of everyday life fits this objective.

So many times we give them mixed signals when we attempt to help them adapt to a culture that does not know God. Unknowingly, we can train them to think unbiblically. For example, if you teach your child to obey and to perform for the approval from you and from others, you present an unbiblical objective. God says we should do all for His glory, because His eyes is upon us and He is the rewarder of the just. People will respond well to a child who obeys, but you cannot make that secondary benefit of obedience the primary reason for obeying."-Excerpt taken from the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp.

This made me question myself. Am I teaching my children that their greatest purpose on this earth is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? I pray that every day, I would be living this out. That my "religion" would not be drudgery, but be an exciting ride with Jesus. I never know where He is going to take me next! I don't know the next lesson. But I do know one thing. He is constantly refining me, teaching me and pruning me when it comes to my weaknesses and strengths. All it takes is an open heart, a teachable spirit and a willingness to change.

Is it painful? Yes. As I walk this road I am transparent in my failings and my struggles. My children know my weaknesses. I encourage them to pray for me and to forgive me when I mess up.

When I write, I am astonished at the things that I share with you, yet I know it keeps me accountable. I need to practice what I preach. I need to do what the Word says to do, then God is glorified through my weaknesses.

Jesus' grace is sufficient for me! He is my all-consuming fire. The love of my life. I want that for my children. I want them to fill up with Him, and not the things of this world.

Lord, let my children bring You glory. Let them enjoy You. Let them delight in You, for You are good and worthy to be praised.

Controlling Our Emotions

2011-07-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Mothers,

We all know that women are emotional creatures. Compound that with hormones, lack of sleep, marriage problems, being cooped up with little people all day, and a general lack of socialization, you have yourself a recipe for disaster.

Emotions in themselves aren’t bad. I want to feel things deeply. Part of life is experiencing joy and pain. Take that away, and it would honestly be a pretty boring life. God gave us emotions for a reason. God gave us emotions to be managed and used for His glory. God created us in His image and He, Himself, is often described in Scripture as having emotions. Unfortunately, when we experience emotions, our hearts always have a mixture of impurity in them. Because God is holy, His expression of emotion is always righteous and pure. So the similarities between man and God end at his infinite character. The fact remains, however, that anger and other emotions are parts of the raw material in our being. Emotions add zest and passion to what might otherwise be a mundane existence. This doesn’t mean that the expression of angry emotions or their frequency or intensity in our daily lives is always appropriate. Because of our tendency to sin, we sometimes take God’s good gifts and misuse them. Instead of assuming that anger is evil, we must view it as a misused asset and learn how to utilize it according to its design.

I have shared before that I struggle with a few emotions. Anger and impatience seem to be my “thorn”. I know I will struggle with them the rest of my life and can now thank God for them because they cause me to be dependent upon Him every single day of my life. I used to think that I should never be angry. That all anger was sinful somehow. I was wrong. I have learned that anger and frustration can also motivate us to do the right thing.

The complexity of emotions requires that we learn how to manage them, not just react. Anger, just one of the emotions can be confusing. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Control is better than venting. Control allows us to use anger as a tool rather than a weapon. When we as parents and our children recognize the complexity of emotions and how to wisely choose which emotion to use in a particular situation, we will feel anger less intensely and less often.

Some emotions, such as fear or frustration, increase our energy level, were as other feelings, like sadness or hopelessness, decrease our energy. Both groups of emotions have God-ordained purposes. Feelings often motivate us to action or inaction. Anger is an emotion that increases energy. When we get angry several things happen inside our body all at the same time. Our heart rate, blood pressure, and rate of breathing increase. Blood sugar levels rise, our pupils dilate, and our muscles become tense. Our adrenal glands release adrenaline, and our awareness intensifies. All of these reactions are designed by God to prepare us to fight an actual physical threat or run from it. We may not be faced with imminent danger, but a physical response occurs in our body when our children threaten our peace. When we are angry, we’re more motivated to solve problems, confront offenders or make a change in our lives. Most of us can control the physical responses of anger, but we still struggle with our mouths.

It is a life-style of anger that Scripture condemns, not anger itself. Some people become addicted to that extra energy that anger provides. They thrive on it. It wakes them up in the morning and carries them through the day. I’ve been there and done that and it is NOT fun. You can only exist like that so long without feeling like you are losing your ever-loving mind.

Remember anger is usually caused by these five things:

Blocked goals

Physical Pain

Violated rights

Unfairness

Unmet expectations

Understanding the five causes of anger can help you relate to your family. Each time you feel angry, stop for a minute and try to identify which of these is the cause.

I found this to be solid and biblical advice. I am trying to practice this daily and I am slowly seeing some old habits being broken.

From One Mom to Another,

*These concepts are taken from the book "Good and Angry" by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.

Caught and Catching Up!

2011-06-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Andrew lost his second bottom tooth this week. He put his tooth in the tooth pillow and stuck it under his big pillow. As I was playing the tooth fairy, he woke up! His eyes got huge and he said, "Mom, you're freaking me out!" I told him that I was just checking to see if the Tooth Fairy had come. He went back to bed and in the morning came out. He had told Marcus was had happened. Marcus said that the Tooth Fairy can take on the shape of mom. Oh my, now he is telling everyone that his Mom is the Tooth Fairy, but still believes IN the Tooth Fairy! Hope he doesn't blow it for other kids!

The weather is starting to get a bit warmer. We have enjoyed sitting with the kids out on the swing. I love to see Steve sitting with his kids and talking with them. We have a wonderful view of the Klickitat Mountains from our backyard. The sky is vast and beautiful as well. Summer is finally here and we are making the most of it!

OK, I know this isn't the most flattering picture of me, but I just have to show you the brilliant idea that my husband came up with. We kept losing our remotes and it was costing us money, not to mention it was highly annoying! He got a piece of Styrofoam and cut out the shapes of our remotes. Being a MAN, he duct-taped them on to it. We have never lost our remotes since! Yes, you will have to undo it when you need to change the batteries, but it is worth the hassle!

I walked into the house the other day, and saw Lily in the shoebox/bench seat totally buried in shoes! I assumed someone did it to her, when Jessica said, "Nope, she got in there and covered herself with them." Weird! I just didn't want anyone to shut the thing, so I made her get out. The kid is like her mama, she loves shoes!!!

The other day, I decided to load up the four-wheeler and take the kids out to my parent's ranch to play. It was the first time I've ever done anything like that myself. I had Steve show me how to hitch up the trailer (again) and then drove it out there. Dad has three, 4-Wheelers, so we got to ride together while I gave the other kids rides. It was so much fun. The scenery and wildflowers out there are just breathtaking. Jess took this picture of the wild lupine. I loaded up the 4-wheeler and backed it all the way down my driveway myself. It was a milestone for me. I want to be comfortable doing things like that without Steve's help.

The summer is starting to get busy, a few weekends ago, we put on a 25th anniversary party for Dad and Diana. Is was crazy the week before, but my sis, SIL, and I pulled it off, with the help of many other people. The vow renewal was a blessing to watch and a wonderful testimony to their grandchildren. The reception afterwards was simple, yet delightful!

This last weekend I was able to get away with two very good friends! We call ourselves the "Three Musketeers". Catherine, Margaret and I are different ages and stages of life. Our ages range from 65-36! But God is the glue in our relationship. We are brutal accountability partners and delight in the fact that we get to call each other to the carpet! But we also know that we could be next. We don't let each other get away with anything. It is a real blessing and God has allowed the fruit of refinement to come out of these relationships. So what did we do for two days? Talk, eat, sleep, talk, eat, make a few cards, take a drive, sleep, talk, eat! I feel very "full"! It was wonderful to really get caught up with each other and ask for wisdom and break out in a praise song, if we were fairly bursting with joy! Oh, I love these ladies! A special thank you to my MIL, Ethel. She came and watched the kids for the first night because Steve was working. I think she had a lot of fun with them and they loved having Nana come up.

One of the things that came out of this mini-retreat is that I have decided to take a full summer break. I have homeschooled all year around in the past. I'm going to see how this goes. I feel that not only do the kids need a break, but I do as well. It might really help my stress level go down if I can stop being so serious all the time and just have FUN with my children. This way too, I can get a bunch of extra projects done around the place and take them on picnics and museums and such. The kids and I are really excited about it. I have decided to keep a half an hour of required reading time every weekday. It will keep us going on that, and it will hopefully be a fun and relaxing time in the morning or afternoon. I don't want them to lose any reading skills over the summer.

This week will be very different. Dad and Diana are keeping the three older children in Dufur while they run them back and forth to basketball camp. I am really going to focus on the three little ones and try to do some fun things with them. They love to "work" beside mama. We have lots of raspberries and peas to pick right now.

I will have time this week to prepare more for our Voice of the Martyr's themed VBS which is coming up in July. The persecuted church is one of my passions, so I am delighted that we will be teaching our kids to have courage in the face of physical, but more importantly psychological persecution. I will have them write over a hundred letters to prisoners around the world, and we will learn how to pray for their needs. We even have a man in our church build up an actual jail cell and an underground church meeting place! The kids are really going to get to feel and experience just a taste of what it might be like.
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On a sad note, please pray for our pastor. Pastor Steve ( our senior pastor) is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. They probably calling hospice this week. Pray for Marilyn, his wife, and Jamie and Jared who are his children. Our church will be taking on an interim pastor July 5th to help us with our grieving and to also help us transition. This is a very difficult time for all. Pray that they can keep his pain under control and that he will not suffer. He is the godliest of men and we all know where he is going, but we love him so much that it hurts knowing that he is in pain. Thank you!
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I have so much to look forward to this summer. I am living a blessed life and am so grateful to God for friends, family, health and the Body of Christ.

Mother/Daughter Trip

2011-06-23T05:49:00.000-07:00

I took Jessica to Pendleton a few weekends back for a mother/daughter trip. Since it was just the two of us, I was able to do some things that I normally wouldn't be able to do if I had had all the kiddos. The first thing we did was stop by the side of the freeway and get a picture of the "Pioneer Girl". Someone saw the discoloration of this rock as a pioneer girl with a little bonnet. There is always a basket of flowers in front of her. It really is precious!

After going out for Thai food, she said she wanted to go to the children's museum. I couldn't believe how relaxing it was with just one kid to watch! We had fun as she pretended to make me pizza in her little restaurant.

Here I am ordering from the "menu".

Mom and Larry made her birthday very special. She got many more gifts, but her favorite by far, was this jewelry stand for her necklaces and bracelets!

We even were able to go see a saddle bronc competition for "Cattle Baron's Weekend".

It was so good for us to have some positive interaction. She is very different when her brothers and sister are not around. I don't think I had to discipline her once. I think when she is all grown up that we are going to be good friends. In the meantime, I keep telling myself that I am her parent, not her friend. Friendship is the end-goal.

Thank you, Steve for watching the rest of the kids so that we could have this weekend together. I really do appreciate it!

Late Spring Flowers

2011-06-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

My irises and chives are in full bloom. Lots of purple around here.

Strawberries are still looks great! Bought some non-toxic slug bait so hoping for the best. That is the bad thing about using straw around my beds. It seems like the slugs love it!

Aren't these lovely?

There was one day where it was warm enough to bring out the slip and slide. The kids had a ball!

Introducing...My Fathers

2011-06-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

Being that it is Father's Day, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to the men in my life who have helped shape me into the person I am.

This is my dad, Russ. This man works harder than anyone I've ever known. He is also the toughest person I know. Everyday, this man pushes through pain to get the job done. He is a hay-farmer/cattle rancher/horse trainer/horse-shoer. His body has taken a beating over his 58 years of living. He has been in severe motorcycle accidents and has fought with horses to train and shoe them. This man taught me to not be afraid of a little work. Even when I was growing up, we were very good friends. Even now, we can be brutally honest with each other and still be OK. I have always treasured that in our relationship.

Growing up, the one thing that I remember is even though he would mess up and sometimes yell or even say a swear word or two, he would always come back and apologize. I try to remember that when I am parenting my children. Children are very forgiving, as was I. I knew my dad was human and that he made mistakes. But he showed me how important it was to restore the relationship by saying sorry. He had to swallow a lot of pride to do that.

He is very good with his grandchildren and they in turn LOVE their Papa Russ. He is teaching them to ride horses, drive tractors and help out at the ranch.

This is my step dad, Larry. Larry came into my life when I as 16. My twin, Jackie and I were immediately loved and accepted by this man. Honestly, he was easy to love because he treated (and still does) my mom like a queen. Larry is a romantic at heart and knows how to treat a lady. You will NEVER meet a man who romances his wife like this man. He is creative and extremely thoughtful.

When I think of Larry, I think of him being an overcomer. He grew up a Navy brat and started drinking and using drugs at a very early age. After decades of this behavior, he finally sought help. Afterwards, he became an awesome drug and alcohol counselor. He is a living, breathing testimony of God's mercy, forgiveness and grace! He has such a heart for addicts to be free from their addictions!

Since Larry never had any children of his own, he has really enjoyed every stage of grandparenting. He has been able to experience babies, toddlers, and now tween-agers. He is a very good grandpa and is very protective of his granddaughters. He is going to be the one with the shotgun. No one is going to be good enough for them! LOL! It is very sweet.

This is my Father-In-Love, Vern. He is really Steve's stepfather, but raised Steve from the age of five. He is another one of those men that did what it takes to provide for his family. Vern was raised in severe poverty in Arkansas. After graduating high school he he joined the Air Force and did some travelling. Vern has owned several motels, Dunkin' Donuts, coffee shops, and even a house-cleaning business. Steve said he worked like a dog for years. He is now retired and is happily playing golf and travelling. He was a pilot for years and owned several different types of small aircraft.

I have known Vern for 17 1/2 years. Steve's parents immediately welcomed me into their family. I don't think I have ever been mad at this man! EVER... Isn't that amazing? I always hear these horror stories about in-laws. I can't relate at all. I am sooo incredibly blessed. We have vacationed together and can chat on the phone for an hour. He is a wonderful grandpa and enjoys spending time with our children, as well (even though he is terrified of changing a poopy diaper!). We have had a few health scares over the past few years. Praise God things have turned out all right, it has made us appreciate and treasure him even more.

And here is my hubby, a father of six! I so appreciate the sacrifices that he makes for us on a daily basis. He has enabled my dreams of being a wife and a mother to come true. Steve is a very intelligent man who does his job extremely well. He is an excellent Lt. and a wonderful paramedic as well.

Happy Father's Day! I pray that you will all continue to grow into the men that God would have you be. It doesn't matter how old or young you are. Continue to seek and find the calling God has on your life to further His Kingdom.

Thank for loving and accepting me for who I am. It means so much to me.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Redwoods Vacation Part Five: Ocean World

2011-06-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

The kids had fun "surfing" on this surfboard. Ocean World was OK. The price was expensive and there wasn't much there. The highlights were petting sharks and watching the seal show.

They kind of had a pirate theme going on. I love the look that Steve is giving him!

Andrew's face is priceless.

Andrew liked the tide pool table. He had no fear picking up starfish.

All the kids except the two little ones petted the sharks. I wouldn't do it. I hate touching fish of any kind. The kids said that their skin felt like sandpaper. The skin is made of tiny little teeth!

They didn't want you to pet their head, just the bodies. Also, no grabbing and holding on. Duh! LOL!

Marcus looking the part!

The seals were absolutely adorable. Their trainer was very funny and they did some really cool tricks. He was really good about explaining things to us and we learned a ton about these fascinating creatures. I continue to be amazed at the diversity of God's creations. He is so amazing!!!

Redwoods Vacation: Part Four (Trees of Mystery)

2011-06-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Trees of Mystery was very expensive (cost us $70) to get in. Josh is now 12, so he is considered an adult now (go figure!). It was worth it though. We spent several hours wandering beautiful trails and oohing and aahing over God's handiwork. When we first arrived, the kids gravitated immediately to Paul and his big blue ox. It took awhile to realize that he was talking to us. It was really cool! They had set up microphones somewhere and he could hear every word we were saying. Then he would respond to the kids. They had crazy questions and he wanted to know if we were on a field trip since we had so many kids. It was really funny! I loved it when he told Jacob to listen to his mom and get in the picture.

This was the Cathedral Trees. It was six or seven trees that had started growing together in this beautiful formation. People get married here all the time.

Steve doing a little preaching!

The tram ride was included. We convinced everyone to go on except Josh. He would have none of it. Jessica and Hannah were not happy about this part.

Mary didn't mind! I love her scrunchy smile!

When I met Steve up at the top, Marcus was almost ready to have an anxiety attack. He hated the tram. He was freezing and sick to his stomach. He wanted to walk back down, but that was impossible. So he came down with me that time.

Here he is praying and trying not to puke.

You will have to click on this picture to read it. It was really cute!

This is the Candelabra Trees. The three trees were growing out of the one. Stunning!!!

Paul was really excited to show us some elk. We got pretty close to them too. Everything is so green and beautiful there. Rachel kept saying it was her favorite place on earth. I can see why...

Mothers, Give Each Other Grace

2011-06-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Mothers,

“Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”-Matthew 7:1-2

I have found this verse has come true in my life.

How many times have I judged parents by their child’s behavior? Truthfully, more than I can count. I have self-righteously torn others down in order to build myself up. Maybe not out loud, but in my own mind. God knows that my motives have not always been pure.

Recently, a mother who did not know me very well, grossly misjudged me as a parent. She concluded I didn’t discipline my children because of some bad behavior that she saw from one of my children. She chose to cut off any relationship with our family. I cannot tell you the pain my children and I experienced through this severing. I examined my parenting, critiquing myself from all angles. Believe me, I am my worst critic. I struggled against feelings of hopelessness and defeat. I came to the conclusion that I cannot control every situation and every action my child takes. I try giving them privileges. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. If it doesn’t and trust is broken, I pull back on the reins and try to discipline with love and wisdom.

I did not choose to have a strong-willed child. God chose me. He has entrusted me with a special gift. I can be downright humiliated sometimes by my child’s lack of self-control in public, especially when he doesn’t get his way. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t disciplined for it. People who take the time to get to know me, truly know that my heart is to raise godly offspring.

I keep asking myself, “Where’s the grace?”. Now, when I see a mother struggling with the behavior of her child, instead of condemning her and judging her mothering, I’m going to assume that she is doing everything she can. I’m going to first pray for her, and then I’m going to do something about it. I can choose to come alongside her, loving and encouraging her to stay strong. Perhaps I could even take the child off of her hands for a few hours to give her an emotional break.

Through this experience, I realized I had just a taste of what it was like for Jesus to be misjudged. Only Jesus was insulted, spat upon, and betrayed by his own countrymen. The same people who welcomed him into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week, were the same people who shouted, “Crucify him!”, by Friday.

We, women can be just as fickle. Instead of “crucifying” those around us, let us love them enough to spend time with them and truly see how they interact with their children. After you have built a relationship with her and you see a real problem, especially where sin is involved (rage, verbal abuse, sarcasm, permissiveness, ect), then you might have an opportunity to lovingly exhort her IF she asks for your advice. Be careful though, check your motives! Remember what goes around comes around.

I think most of the Christian mothers out there are doing the best they can do. We are all muddling through this thing called parenting. We are all wanting to raise our children to be responsible, God-fearing adults. We’re going to make some mistakes. And yes, we are going to be misjudged.

No matter how much you pour yourself into your children, teaching them the principles of the Bible, they can still exercise their freewill and walk away from it all. It boils down to the choices THEY make. If we have given them that Biblical foundation, they will know the way home. I am reminded of the Prodigal Son. What a perfect image of God’s grace.

Let us extend that kind of grace to each other. Don’t just write them off if you see a problem. Endure with them patiently. They may desperately need the encouragement you have to offer.

“And we urge you, brothers (sisters), warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

From One Mom to Another,

Andrew Lost His First Tooth!

2011-06-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

I have never seen a child more excited about losing a tooth! He has been watching Jessica and Marcus raking in all this money from the Tooth Fairy. When his first tooth began loosening, he really worked on it. It was hanging by a thread when I asked him if he wanted me to pull it. He said yes, so I did! He kept laughing and giggling. It was so cute and so Andrew!

It bled a lot for barely being in there.

He kept checking himself out in the mirror.

And this is Miss Lily's new occupation. Find a marker and quickly write all over yourself, then come to mama and say "sorry". Praise the Lord this was a wet/erase marker and not a Sharpie.

Redwoods Vacation Part Three: Drive Through a Tree W/ 12 Passenger Van!

2011-06-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

It sounded fun. It looked great. But oh, the reality of trying to take a 12 passenger van through a tree!

As I was driving in, I kept thinking, "Why isn't Steve doing this?" Because he is the smart one, that's why!

We folded in the mirrors, but I still had to wiggle side to side to get through without scraping. If our van would have been an inch bigger, I don't think I would have made it.

Steve and Paul were in front of me while I desperately tried not to panic. Every time I would move one way, the mirror was going to scrape, so I had to quickly move the other way. They said I was over-correcting. All, I knew was I was committed and I just needed to get out of there!

At this point, I stopped and tried not to pull my hair out! Too many chiefs and only one Indian! I couldn't keep up with what they wanted me to do. Steve was yelling at me to turn this way, and I was yelling back telling him "I can't"!

Somehow I managed and God got me out of that tree without any damage! When I saw Rachel, she was laughing hysterically and said it was the highlight of her vacation. I think I made two other couple's vacations as well. Everyone was watching and it was so embarrassing. Now it's funny, but at the time it was NOT! LOL! I can't believe I paid $5 to experience sheer panic!

I think I need a T-Shirt that says, "I Survived the Tour Through the Tree".

Redwoods Vacation Part Two: The Trees

2011-06-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

I found these trees to be so large and tall, that it was very difficult to take pictures of them.

The bases of them were HUGE!

They were so majestic as they reached up towards the sunlight.

Here is Lily sitting on a burl.

She looked big, until I pulled back the camera. She is tiny compared to this gigantic tree!

This clover carpeted the forest. It looked like a fairyland.

The clover and ferns just gave the forest such beauty.

It's a little blurry, but it was a sweet picture of two very good friends enjoying every second they could together!

Steve and I, in a hollowed out tree that was struck by lightening. You can see the charred wood behind us.

Here are the kids trying to "hold up" a Redwood that had fallen.

Rachel and I had fun climbing up it. Getting back down was a little trickier! They are slick!

When one falls, the root structure is just astounding! I was also amazed at how well-preserved they are after hundreds of years of laying on the ground. We found out that they are bug-resistant and are a very hardy wood, that does not decompose easily.

Redwoods Vacation: Part One

2011-06-07T06:38:00.000-07:00

When our dear friend's Paul and Rachel moved with their five children, they left a hole in our hearts. We agreed that just because they moved to California didn't mean that we wouldn't be able to see each other. A year later, we headed to the Redwoods and Crescent City to meet up with them. They came from San Francisco, which was almost halfway. We have been on one other vacation before together three years ago. It was so much fun, we knew we had to do it again!

Since it was an eight hour trip for us (without the stops), I got creative. I saw a yard sale sign the day before and stopped. I found a cute bag of Polly Pockets for the girls and a small box of Legos for the little boys. I gave the toys to them the minute we got in the van to leave. They were thrilled to play with their new toys! They played the entire time with them. I couldn't believe how peaceful it was. I also charged up their MP3 players and Marcus brought his Game Boy. In 1,14 miles we had a five minute meltdown with Lily. That was it! God really blessed us.

We decided to take the backseat out of the van, so we could have more cargo space. That made it really squishy for the kids. They are used to having space in between them. They did really good overall with being patient with one another.

The first day we drove five hours and stayed at Roseberg, OR. Lily let Jessica hold her in the water. They had such a fun time swimming in the pool and even made some new friends.

The next day, we got up early and headed to Crescent City. Wow! What a winding road the Redwoods Highway is. I'm so thankful for our kids don't normally get carsick. Most of the corners you had to take at 25 to 30 and there was a lot of them since you were following a river. Here we are at the beach waiting for Paul and Rachel's family to arrive. The kids were so happy to be out of the car!

Lily hung back with me. She is very afraid of the "pretty water". The ocean must just look too big to her.

We were in the pool when their family arrived. When they came in, we pretty much took up the pool! There were 15 of us all together. Eleven children between us. They are basically all about the same age, so there is a friend for everyone. I can also count on Paul to bring the pool toys! I am the world's lightest packer, and that man packs everything but the kitchen sink. I love it! I told you our families were meant to be good friends! LOL! It felt so good to spend time with them. No one was shy, they just started playing and having a wonderful time. Rachel and I just kept hugging each other and I couldn't stop bawling. What a treat to be able to see each other face to face.

The next day we headed to go hike the Redwoods. We found this delightful grove by a creek. The weather was warm and sunny. We managed to get them all gathered to snap this picture of all eleven children. Talk about a miracle! LOL! They may not all be looking at the camera, but all of them are in there.

Heading into the Redwoods was just amazing. They are different than anything I've ever seen. The kids were just so happy to be out of that van and running around with their friends.

We kept finding these banana slugs everywhere. We had never seen them, but apparently they are everywhere in San Francisco. They told us all kinds of facts about them. Here David (their oldest) is licking one. It makes the tongue go numb. EWWWWWWW! Elijah even put one across his face. We were all thoroughly grossed out!

We tried to get the kids to take a few pictures of us. This one was pretty good.

This was our silly picture. Paul is didn't get the memo! LOL! I love Rachel's look, though. She always makes me laugh.

More later. I don't want to overwhelm you. I played a lot with my camera and I can't wait to show you some of the shots I got.

The Essence of Abundant Life

2011-06-03T03:45:00.000-07:00

This stuff in my Bible study is just too good to not pass on. I hope you get as much out of this as I did.

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God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Our soul's satisfaction for His glorification is a wonderful motive for requesting more of the Holy Spirit. After learning many lessons the hard way, I want more and more of His Spirit because I want more and more of Him! The flooding of the Holy Spirit will manifest in all sorts of ways, but God and His glorification are our purest motives, not the manifestations themselves.

I am convinced that the essence of abundant life is simply put: an abundance of God in our lives. I don't just want to do the church thing. I want to experience Him every day of my mortal life and walk with Him as surely and vividly as I could walk with flesh and bone. I want to see His glory that the prophet Isaiah said fills the earth (see Isa. 6:3). I don't want just to be saved from destruction, as thankful as I am for the deliverance. I want to bask in the favor of His pure presence. I want God-a lot of Him! I think you do too.

Let's start asking for Him, Dear One.

Every day of our lives.

More of Your Spirit, Lord.

More of Your Spirit!

Taken from "Beloved Disciple" by Beth Moore.

Jessica Gets Her Ears Pierced

2011-06-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

For her 8th birthday, Jessica came to me and asked if she could get her ears pierced. I was a little hesitant because I knew it could be painful. I went through everything with her including the amount of care it takes. She still said she wanted to do it so I made an appointment.

Here she is waiting, trying to get her game face on. She is the toughest girl I know, so I didn't think it would be a problem. I reminded her that when the first ear gets done, you can't change your mind. You have to do the other one too.

The first one took her by surprise. She actually cried. But she did good. She knew she had to do the other one. She got herself composed enough to get the second one done (Above picture).

Her daddy came too. I thought it was so sweet that he wanted to support his little girl. After it was done, she just went into his arms and fell apart. She didn't even want to look at the earrings for about 10 minutes.

When we got into the car, she was OK again and was able to show me her pink earrings. She immediately started texting her nana's and Aunt Jackie! I kept asking her if she was glad that she did it. Her answer is "Yes!" Whew!

I also have to tell you, she has been diligent about caring for them morning and night. It is neat to see her take responsibility for herself. What a big girl she is turning into.

Life Is Good

2011-05-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist the flip flops when they went on sale at Fred Meyers. I had to get a picture of the girls' together. This is Lily's first pair.

Daddy snuggling with Lily Pie.

I don't know why I didn't do this when I was going through the Beth Moore's "Believing God" study. Beth asked us to tie a blue bracelet around our wrists to remind us to believe God. My sister is doing this Bible study with her friends. I have decided to wear it not only to remember to believe God for them, but for some stuff I'm going through.

I am going to believe God for my children's future.

I'm going to believe that they will become men and women of integrity and truthfullness (we've been having a lying problem with five of them. I know, YIKES!)

I am believing God that all of my efforts to raise these children for Him will not be in vain.

I know it's a tall order, but my God can do what He says He can do!

Feminine

2011-05-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

This hat just screams feminine! I just love it.

Even when she is fussin', she is still adorable.

She is such a character. She loves her little flip flops. She is a shoe girl like her mama.

I hope she always embraces her femininity.

Still can't comment on anyone's blog where I have to sign in. Pop up boxes have been no problem, but where it shows the comments directly under the posts, I have no luck. Half the blogs I follow seem to have those. You might want to check your settings and switch it to a pop up window. "Ponderings", "Quotes for Mother", "Lady Rose", "Homestead Living", "Chelle" and several others are blogs that don't have pop up windows. I can't believe how long it is taking to fix this it. I am not ignoring you, I promise!

Is God Picking on Me?

2011-05-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been feeling sort of picked on my God. I was kind of having a pity party about it, when the Lord had me do my devotions. Hmmmph, guess what it was on? I think I'll share it with you.

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If you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, you may feel as if God is picking on you. Have you ever exclaimed in exasperation, "God never lets me get away with anything"? Have you ever noticed that God seems particularly jealous with you? That He refuses to allow you mindless and meaningless activities that He seems to tolerate in other believers? He does so because you have proved to be a cooperative, fruit-bearing child. He knows that you are His prime branch through whom He can be glorified.

God desires for those who bear fruit to bear more fruit and for those who bear more fruit to bear much fruit! As nervous as the thought may make us, God can be trusted with a pair of shears.

Satan does not want us to bear much fruit. he will do everything he can to discourage, accuse, and condemn us. Even the most steadfast among God's servants make mistakes and foolish decisions along the way. We will always give Satan plenty of ammunition to discourage us.

Taken from Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple" Bible study.

Around the Table

2011-05-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to let you know that I am having trouble with Blogger. I can't leave comments on other people's blogs. They say they are aware of the problem, but it has been a couple of days and it still isn't fixed. I'm not ignoring you! I promise...

At least I can still post.

Written in 2006

Dear Mothers,

Since we have moved into our new house, we were blessed with a bigger kitchen table. Oh, the joy of a HUGE table! As I wipe it down each day I am reminded of the awesome responsibility that I have as a Christian to practice hospitality. The Bible says, “He loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18. Our tables should not be only blessing strangers and guests, but also our own family. Are you practicing hospitality to your own husband and children, or is the meal, hurried and tense, and perhaps a place to argue and condemn? Is the table a “safe” place to come to?

“The table is more than a place to accumulate books and junk. It is more than a place to eat a hurried meal on the run. The table is a feeding place. It is where we nurture the physical bodies of our family. It is a place where we also feed their souls and their spirits.”-Nancy Campbell

Dear mother, cooking for and feeding your family is a very important part of your mothering career. This is one of the ways to nurture your husband and children. The family meal time should be a place of warmth and have a loving and accepting atmosphere.

Yes, it can be hard at times when you are trying to teach your children table manners, or trying to get your toddler to stop throwing food at the child next to him, but it can still be handled in a peaceful but firm way. A great example of this is the first time we all sat down around our nice large table it felt like a free-for-all. Steve and I simultaneously realized that we had never taught the children to pass things (we had always had to serve buffet-style because there wasn’t enough room for the food to actually be on the table). Instead of getting worked up about it, we tried to make it fun! They were so cute because they were so proud of themselves as they learned something new!

Most Christians pray before meals. How about praying after the meal as well? You could go around and ask each other for prayer requests and at the end of the meal you can lift each other up to the Lord. (We need to do this more). What a blessing! But don’t spoil the mood by clearing the table too quickly. I realized that in my efficiency, I had been losing opportunities to enjoy more of the meal time. What a great excuse for a busy mom to sit down and relax!

“The family meal table is a sanctuary. It should be a secret place from the daily world of strife. Our husband and grown children may spend their day out in the work place. More often than not they are surrounded by filthy talk, jesting, immodesty and humanistic reasoning. If they come home and turn on the TV, this contamination of the world will only sink deeper into their spirits. But if they arrive home to a waiting table- a table that welcomes them with good food, love and fellowship, the filth of the day washes away. As you communicate and talk about the things of the Lord, their souls and spirits are washed clean.” –Nancy Campbell (taken from The Family Meal Table and Hospitality)

When you make dinner tonight, make not only a meal, but a memory!

From One Mom to Another,

Silliness

2011-05-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

You know, sometimes moms just need to lighten up. The other day, the older children were sleeping in so I thought I would treat the earlier risers to a cup of hot chocolate. I know, it was unhealthy, but it was wonderful to see their faces light up with delight when they watched Mom bend the rules a bit.

Jacob is really becoming a ham.

I can barely get a picture where he isn't being an absolute goofball!

See what I mean? LOL! Oh, I love this kid. He is such a crack up and so far very easy to discipline. Hopefully, that won't change.

Be silly today with your kids. Do something unexpected and fun!

Jessica's Birthday Tea

2011-05-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

I gave Jessica a choice this year to either have a bunch of friends come over for a party, or to invite a friend to the tea parlor. I was thrilled that she chose the tea parlor! It was way more relaxing and special. She chose her friend Callysa (sp?), from church. I spoiled them with a variety of delightful foods, including Bev's famous Pavlova dessert.

Can I just say YUM?!?

What a sweet time we had!