By His Grace... The Last Day of 5th Grade

By the sustaining grace of God and the enabling and equipping of the Holy Spirit, today is our last day of 5th grade!

This has been a good year, but a hard year.  We have had many long days, many frustrations over not wanting to do our work completely with excellence... we have had many talks about the attitudes of our hearts, many talks about the privilege of being able to learn, the blessing of having good minds that learn things easily without really having to struggle.  We have had to make ourselves work hard and long hours, and we have accomplished much!  When I sat down and really looked at what all we have learned and done this past year I know it is only by the sustaining grace of God that we have finished well!

By the grace of God.... We have studied 1st and 2nd Corinthians verse by verse, read through the book of Psalms, and most of Matthew.  The boys have memorized all of 1 Corinthians 13, and 75 more verses of scripture.
By the grace of God... We have studied the countries of the Eastern Hemisphere.  We have learned about the land, the climate, the geography, the people, the economy, the way of life, the religions, and the history of the following countries:  China, North and South Korea, Japan, Russia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, India, Middle East, Israel, Africa (focusing on Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria), New Zealand, Australia, and Antarctica.  And they have comprised an Eastern Hemisphere notebook with information about each of these countries.
By the grace of God.... I have read aloud 3,968 pages of stories that have carried us in our minds to these different countries where we have experienced life through the eyes of many fascinating characters.
The boys have each read 3,618 additional pages of stories that have given them insight into the lives of people living in these countries in the past and present.
We have read about the lives of real people who have made a difference in the world for the glory of God, people such as Teresa of Calcutta, William Carey, David Livingstone, Mary Slessor, Hudson Taylor, Father Matteo Ricci, and Salva Dut (we are praying for the salvation of Salva Dut; in our reading of A Long Walk to Water, there was no indication that he knows the Lord Jesus Christ, what an impact he could have on the many he has influence over if he could share with them the Living Water of Christ Jesus.)
By the grace of God... We have completed 119 English lessons, 10 tests, and weekly creative writing assignments as well as a research paper.
By the grace of God.... We have completed 120 math lessons, 23 math tests, 12 math investigations, and fact tests at least 3 times a week.
By the grace of God.... We have learned 300 plus vocabulary words... this is not counting science vocabulary or vocabulary words we have looked up during our various readings...
By the grace of God... We have studied Chemistry, consisting of 97 lessons and 18 tests on properties of matter, atoms and molecules, and ecosystems...
By the grace of God.... The boys have been tested on and mastered the spelling of 511 spelling words...

They have also taken art classes for the year, and graced the walls of our home and the homes of others with impressive pieces of art.  They have taken piano lessons weekly and practiced for hours each week.  Their music is a joy to listen to and often brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.   They have practiced countless hours for soccer.  They have played many soccer games, experienced their 1st season of competitive soccer, placed 1st in their league for the season, and placed second in their division at the state cup tournament!! 


Part of me wants to shout for joy and celebrate... another part of me wants to sit down and cry... I am so proud of our boys, of all their hard work, and of the many things they (and I) have learned this past year.  Yet I am also sad that this is the end... the days are flying by faster and faster each year.  I long to hold on to them, to treasure them a little longer, to slow time down just a bit...  Our Lord has blessed our children with many talents and skills.  What a joy it is to watch those talents being developed and honed... may they use each one for and to the glory of God!

I am thankful... for the blessing of teaching my children... for watching them learn and grow... for the sustaining grace of God and the daily enabling and strengthening of the Holy Spirit...

And I am grateful for a break!!  Summer here we come!!

Reflections...

Today our double blessings turn double 1's, the big 11! I can't believe they are already 11 years old!

As I have reflected on the past 11 years with them in our life, I am reminded not only of the all the sweet memories and fun times we have had with them, not only the milestones we have watched them achieve, but also all the people who have loved us and them through these past 11 years.

I am reminded of...

The sweet lady who first told us we were having twins!  I don't know her name but I remember her face and her words as she explained the results of my ultrasound to me... "Here is your baby, and here is another one!!"

Our Sunday School class from Northpark Baptist Church who loved us through 2 1/2 weeks in the hospital before they were born, who continued to love us after we came home, and even after we moved 45 minutes away... They loved us well... They were the hands and feet of Jesus to us and hold a very special and dear place in our hearts!

The nurses who took such wonderful care of me during my stay at Brookwood.  I have had the privilege of running into a few of them  over the years and was able to express my gratitude for their excellent care... A good and caring nurse is truly a ministering servant of our Lord and Savior.

My dear friends who moved my baby shower to the hospital... and all the sweet friends who came to celebrate with me there!  I was in a wheelchair, with an IV, and hooked up to a fetal monitor, but what a wonderful afternoon it was!

Our very first babysitter, Danielle Moon, who now is married and has her own little one... What a blessing to have a fun and trustworthy babysitter!  Our boys were always so excited when you came over to "play".  Thank you for loving them through the early years of their lives!   

Their wonderful 3K and 4K teacher, Lori Barton... What a blessing you were to our boys during those pre-K years, and what a blessing your friendship has been to me!  Maybe one day after all the kids activities slow down we can go running again!!

And we had more great "kid" sitters as they grew older... Delight Davis, Jennifer Rochester (who is also now married!), and Mabrey-Layne Pevey... Thank you for loving our boys, and for enabling us to have some date nights without worrying about them!

I think of our little neighborhood playgroup that we played with for years... changing schedules and seasons of life have hindered us from joining in the playing over the past year or so, but what sweet memories we have of playing at George Roy Park... playing in their "club", getting dirty in the "creek", and one of my favorites - when all our little kids chased the teenagers on their skateboards and they ran for their lives!

I think of the many people who helped care for them while I was so very sick in 2010... Thank you for each of you who cared for them and loved them, from keeping them in your home overnight, to carting them around to soccer practice, to taking them to the park to play.  God used you to love and to meet many needs, and we are eternally grateful.

I think of their very first soccer team... what a hoot they were!  I think this started their passion for the game, as even then they had a competitive spirit and loved the game!  Then I think of the team they joined their 1st grade year... Coach Patrick's team!  What a joy this team has been since 1st grade!  What a joy to watch all the kids grow and improve in their skills, to watch them go from being a pretty pitiful team to winning the championship!  Thank you Coach Patrick for loving our kids, for putting your all into coaching their team, and for fueling their passion and love of the game!

I think of the numerous people who have taught our boys at church and at Community Bible Study... their many leaders in Awana, their many Sunday School teachers, and VBS teachers.  I think of their Sunday School teachers for the past 2 years, the Sprinkles... thank you for loving our boys, for praying fervently for them and us, for "Sprinkling" their hearts and minds with God's Word, your entire family is a blessing to all of us!  I think of Bro. Hal who baptized our David when he was 7... sweet, sweet memories!

I think of Mrs. Debbie, who not only poured into them the things of God and His Word, but who helped spur on their interest in the piano!  Thank you for your kindness and generosity... you are truly a blessing and hold a special place in all our hearts.  I think of Mrs. Nancy who has helped them begin to develop their musical talent, and who can gently re-direct their silly little minds and hands to help them learn new skills.  You are an answer to prayer and we love having you in our home each week!

I think of Miss Abby, who has helped them develop their artistic skills!  Thanks to you I have lovely pieces of their artwork displayed in my home, and friends and family have been blessed with their own original pieces from the Schmid Masterpiece Collection!  You have taught them things I never could have taught them... now we may need to enroll them in your Etiquette class!

I think of my homeschooling mom friends... Cheley, Kimberly, Donna... my life would not be the same without each of you!  You greatly encourage me, refresh me, and spur me on when the days are hard.  I know I can call on you anytime, day or night, and you will be there to pray for and with me and to lend a helping hand if needed.  The Lord filled a huge void in my life when he gave me you as friends...

I think of my Moms in Prayer friends... Wow!  What a huge blessing you are!  How it melts my heart and often brings me to tears to hear you praying so fervently for my boys!  How awe inspiring it is to hear the Lord lay on your heart specific things to pray about that could have only been revealed to you by the Spirit of God.  I am eternally grateful for the bond that we have developed as we carry our children to the throne of grace.  Thank you for praying for my children, for my husband, and for me.  Donna, Suzie, JoDee, Nancy Ann, Amanda, Melissa, Dana... a praying friend is one like no other, thank you!

And I think of the many dear friends who have loved our boys as if they were your own... and there are many of you... Mrs. Sandra and Mr. Joe, Mr. Dan and Mrs. Chrissie, Mrs. Michelle and especially Mr. George, you have your own fan club with our kiddos!  They love you and think you are just the greatest!

So as I reflect on the past 11 years, I am reminded of not only the wonderful blessing that our boys are, but also all the wonderful friends our Lord has blessed us with through the years... we are truly blessed beyond measure. 

When I am afraid, I will trust in You...

Do Not Fear...

When I am afraid, I will trust in You...

God's Word is very timely... oftentimes it is an entire passage that ministers to me.  Other times, it can just be a phrase, or a portion of a verse that God uses to comfort, encourage, or guide me.  Today I was comforted by a multitude of "Living" snippets...

Today started off well, but a bit different, as I headed off to church bright and early by myself.  I was scheduled to greet guests in our visitor parking prior to the 8 o'clock service.  I had pleaded with my husband to let me go early alone, then he and the boys could come in time for the 2nd service and we could all go to the service together... I didn't want to miss any of the service today, it was our Christmas Worship Concert by our wonderful choir and orchestra.  Typically when I serve in visitor parking I just slip into the service a bit later when I am finished greeting guests.  He agreed with my plan...

I had a nice time of worship and prayer in the car on the way to church this morning, enjoying a cup of coffee as I drove.  I enjoyed serving with our Membership Minster, and was blessed to meet a vibrant and joyful lady visiting our church for the first time today.  When my greet time was over I browsed through the bookstore and enjoyed visiting with a few other people who were "in between" things...

The first service ended and I went to get seats for my family... in the general area where we normally sit.  The service started at 9:30, my family was not there yet... no worries, James is not always the most punctual person.  (He would agree with this statement).  Ten minutes passed, still no family... I sent a quick text, and kept my phone in my lap, on silent.  Ten more minutes passed, another text sent, still no reply...

Needless to say, I was beginning to feel a bit fearful... We were 20 minutes into the service, no sign of my family, and no response to my texts.  I was unable to truly worship... my heart was pounding wildly, my hands were shaking, and I was on the verge of shedding a pool of tears... 30 minutes into the service, still no sign of my family.  Our pastor gets up to begin the sermon, and I slip quietly outside with my phone.  I call James' cell phone, I text again, I call the house... still nothing.  I did not know what to do.... so I went back into the service. The worst case scenario was playing out in my mind... where they in a horrible car crash on the way to church, were they all wounded, would I see them again...

Now throughout the service, snippets of God's Word and snippets of the lyrics from the songs, were ministering to my heart...

•  "Trust in me,"
•  "Do not fear,"
•  "I am with you," 
• "You are never alone,"
• "The hope of the world"
• "He holds all things together"
•  "He is the promise, He will not leave us in the dark,"
• "In Your presence we find our strength,"
• "You are over everything,"

I knew that whatever today held my Lord and Savior would be with me. He would not leave me alone; He would carry me through the days that He has already written for me... but honestly, I was overwhelmingly fearful.  I felt that I could crumple into a heap of tears on the floor.  I did not want to have to walk through the worst, I did not want to have dark days, I did  not want a nightmare to become a reality that I would have to walk through... who does??

The service ended, and still no word from my family.  I left the service promptly and quickly walked to my car.  I called once more, still no answer, and left a message on his cell phone... I locked my door and began the drive home and the tears began to fall... then my phone rang, it was James and they were all okay!  They were late to the service and he had his phone off, they had been unable to find me in the crowd...

After lunch today we read the next portion of the book we are reading for Advent, Tabitha's Travels, A Family Story for Advent.  I will share with you a portion, it was very timely...

Fear is a strong emotion that keeps us from enjoying life.  Sure, sometimes there's good reason for our fear; sometimes bad things do happen to people when they don't deserve them.  Other times, like with Tabitha at the inn, we're in danger and don't even realize it.
We don't really know what lies around the next corner or within the next year, but there is one thing we can know:  Jesus will be right there with us, protecting us, guiding us, or simply helping us endure, no matter what.  

Surely God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid.  The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  Isaiah 12:2

Give your fears to God - fears about the future, fears about other people, fears about yourself.  He'd love to take your fears and give you peace and joy in return.  Why not let him?  (page 52)

Do you know this Jesus who can handle all our fears?  I hope you do...

A Month of Thankfulness!

Last week when I was driving to Bible Study with the boys on Thursday, we saw the above picture in the clouds! God sent us an exclamation mark! I began wondering what it was that He was loudly exclaiming that I needed to hear...

I think I may have figured it out...  It is a truth from Psalm 107.  I have heard verses from this Psalm from multiple sources over the past week, our preacher read from Psalm 107 during our Sunday service, and it has been in several things I have read recently.  This is no coincidence, my Lord is trying to teach me something.

Psalm 107 is a beautiful recollection of the numerous things His children have to give Him thanks for.  There is a recurring chorus throughout this Psalm:

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever." 

In pondering this short verse and the meaning tucked in, I began to realize that the Lord is wanting me to intentionally give Him thanks in and during the hard moments of my days. As I give Him thanks, using this chorus as a pattern, I am reminded that He is good, and that His steadfast love endures forever.  What a wonderful truth to be reminded of when I am right in the middle of a hard moment! 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He has redeemed me and called me His own; His steadfast love endures forever!

 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He has delivered me from the pit and set my feet upon a rock; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;  for He has always been faithful to me, even when I have been unfaithful to Him; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He has healed me, spiritually, emotionally, and physically; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He daily bears my burdens, hears my prayers, and guides my steps; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercies are new every morning, and He gives me wisdom just for the asking; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He has used my broken life and the hard things of my life to enable me to minister His grace and comfort to others; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He never leaves me alone, He is always with me; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He has blessed me with a wonderful husband and precious children; His steadfast love endures forever!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for He sent His Son to die for me, and He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within me, to strengthen and empower me, to conform me to the image of His Son; His steadfast love endures forever!  

What a difference giving thanks can make in our mindset and our attitude!  I am thankful for the Lord teaching me this... to give thanks, but to do so amidst the backdrop of His goodness and His enduring love.  Go, and give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His steadfast love really does endure forever!

A Month of Thankfulness!

Today I am thankful for the ability to remember...

I went to the Thanksgiving service at our church tonight.  We praised and worshiped our Lord and Savior, and we remembered the works of His hands in our lives and the lives of those we know and love, and we offered up to Him our offerings of thanksgiving.

Here is a bit of the overflow of my heart as I reflect on tonight...

• How thankful I am that I do not even think twice about going to church alone (the rest of my crew could not be there tonight), I was not concerned at all about being alone or feeling lonely.  My intent was to go to worship my Lord, and I knew He would either use me to make someone feel welcomed and accepted, or He would provide me a friend to sit with.
• How thankful I am for the day that my God saved me, through His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
• How thankful I was to be in a room filled with people singing praises to our Lord from the heart...
• How thankful I am for the Word of God!  It is a treasure which I love to dig into daily...
• How wonderful to receive sweet hugs from sisters in Christ...
• How thankful I am that I have a wonderful, Godly husband... That I have healthy, energetic, rambunctious boys... That my Lord saw fit to heal me physically 4 years ago... That I have a Mom who I got to talk to on the phone today... That I have a Dad who takes such wonderful care of my Mom and loves us all dearly... That I have a sister who loves me, and whom I love dearly...

Do you have a thankful heart tonight?

If you are interested, here is a link to our Thanksgiving service, it will be worth your time to watch and listen...





 

A Month of Thankfulness!

And the thankfulness continues...

 November 14 

 I am thankful for Fridays! They are typically shorter school days, unless we have gotten behind during the week... I am thankful for beauty shops and hairdressers (can you guess where I was this afternoon?) I am thankful for grocery stores, for chili simmering on the stove, for my husband coming home safely from work. I am thankful for essential oils... One of my boys is a bit puny, fighting off the crud. I have lathered him in essential oils and in only a day and a half he is significantly better and bouncing all over the house with tons of energy and joy!

November 15

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to sleep in! I am thankful for time to get many things marked off my to-do list today!  I did some closet organization, organized and labeled many cds in our 400 disk cd changer, entered a basket of receipts in a spreadsheet on the computer, washed some clothes, and took care of my family!  I also am thankful for some one on one time with David today... he was sick and unable to go to soccer evaluations with his brother, so we had some sweet time together with no interruptions... a rarity for us! 

November 16

I am thankful for worship music.  Today at church the choir did a special, "It Is Well With My Soul"... one of my favorites anyway, but today it just truly blessed my heart!  I am thankful for Sunday afternoon naps while it is raining... thankful for a little time alone with my man tonight while the kids were at choir and discipleship, even though we were out and about in the rain it was good to be together!

November 17

Today I give thanks for the power of prayer... and for the spiritual weapons the Lord has provided for us.  Sometimes I think we forget we are in a spiritual battle and we need to use the weapons the Lord has provided for us... Today it seemed I was in a battle all morning... finally I stopped everything, prayed out loud in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, used my weapons of warfare, and the atmosphere in our home changed!  The rest of our day was so much better.  How thankful I am for the power of God, and that He hears me when I call to Him, and that He answers prayers!

What are you giving thanks for today?




 

A Month of Thankfulness!

And the thankfulness continues...

November 10

Today I am thankful for the blessing of homeschooling and the joy of learning new things right along with my kiddos.  We started a book today about economics and I thought it was going to be horribly boring, but it wasn't!  It was so interesting and we all 3 learned so much... and we are only 3 chapters into the book!  I am also thankful for a break in soccer season, we enjoyed a Monday evening at home!

November 11

I am thankful for my Moms in Prayer group and for divine appointments!  What a blessing this group of ladies has been to me!  There is a special bond that develops when you pray with and for each other on a regular, consistent basis... And there are many answers to prayer experienced when you pray scripture over your children and your family.  Tonight was one of those nights when you know without a doubt that God had ordained your time together... what a blessing when the Lord places someone next to you, on your couch, in your den, who is walking through something you yourself have had to walk through.  How sweet to be able to share encouragement, comfort, and truth from God's Word, and then to take it all to Him in prayer!  

November 12

Today I am thankful for friends and for birthdays!  I was blessed to spend some time visiting with a dear friend and drinking a yummy pumpkin spice latte for her birthday!
I am thankful for a remarkably smooth day of homeschooling today, and even a bit of extra time to
clean out the boys closet.  Now this is a huge deal, as Wednesdays are typically pretty tight school days with no extra time for doing any extra projects, or any type of housework.  So the fact that we did 2 English lessons, 2 math lessons, science, piano practice, vocabulary, and I had time to clean out their closet, all before taking them to art class at 2:15 (and I even left a bit early to run pay a bill on the way to art) can only be because God was blessing my time and ordering my steps!

November 13

Today I am thankful for CBS (aka Community Bible Study).  What a blessing to gather with other ladies to study the riches of God's Word!  And it thrills my heart that our boys get to study the same book we are studying (1 Corinthians, verse by verse) with their closest friends, that they love it, and that I see it bearing fruit in their lives.
Today I also learned that it truly was my Lord who blessed my time and ordered my steps yesterday... Remember how I was able to clean out the boys closet (and I thought I was doing it for me, and to check to make sure they have warm clothes that fit)... Well, we shared our too small clothes with a friend, and our Lord used them to meet some specific needs!  What a wonderful reminder that our God is a God of detail and that He will graciously meet every need we have, and that He often uses us when we don't even realize we are being used!

And there is more!  My heart was blessed tonight at dinner as my husband shared about a divine appointment he had today with a gentleman whom he was able to encourage and share some Biblical truth with.  AND THERE IS STILL MORE!  My husband also shared about a specific event at work that I know was a direct answer to some of my prayers for him!  More evidence that our Lord hears our prayers, and He does answer when we call!

My heart is full of JOY!  What do you have to give thanks for?  Take time to notice, and then give thanks... and then enjoy the joy that you will experience in your own heart.



 

A Month Of Thankfulness

I can't resist sharing sweet memories from years past...

We were making our thankfulness boxes!

I will just start where I left off...

November 7th

I am thankful for some wonderful friendships with some like-minded ladies!  We all love Jesus, we all homeschool, and we all needed a "mental health" day!  We were blessed to spend the day together without our kids (13 total)!  We met for breakfast and spent the day shopping at Christmas Village, it was wonderful!

November 8th

I am thankful for a Saturday to spend at home!  The boys soccer season has ended so I was able to sleep in today, and it was a good, cold morning to sleep in!  I am also thankful for time to get a few things done around the house, as well as get our school weeks planned for the next few weeks... And I am thankful we have a bit of a break from school during the holidays to look forward to, it can't get here soon enough!

November 9th

Once again, I am thankful for our church.  Even though our church is large, it does not feel large... I love that our church family is intentional about getting to know one another.  I love that we have "windows" of time between services and classes for time for fellowship.  I love that the Gospel is preached clearly from the pulpit each Sunday.  I love that our children are discipled and poured into on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights.  I love that they equip you to serve, and that we are encouraged to take the Gospel to those who desperately need to know the good news that God the Father loves us... so much so that He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins that we could never pay, to receive the free gift of salvation that we could never, ever earn.  Do you know Him?  If not, I would love to tell you of His love for you, leave me a comment and I will contact you.

Are you keeping your own thankful list?  I encourage you to do so, it is never too late to start having an attitude of gratitude!

A Month of Thankfulness

I try to have a thankful heart daily...  but especially on hard and trying days.  It really makes a difference in my attitude on those  rare hard and tough days if I intentionally make the effort to find things to be thankful for, and actually voice thanks for them.

I thought I would record the many things I have to be thankful for here for the month of November.  It is always fun to look back and remember... I love how just a few written words can conjure up sweet memories and flood my heart with joy. 

Since today is November 6th, I am going back in time to the 1st...

November 1st

I am thankful that my boys LOVE to play soccer and are passionate about it!  I love being a soccer mom and watching them play!  Today I was blessed to watch them play in an old day long tournament.  They won every game!!  What a way to end the season!!  I am thankful that I have a mouth to cheer them on with, hands to clap for them, legs to jump up and down, and eyes to watch them with.  I am also thankful for warm clothes, hats, gloves, and hot coffee... as it turned terribly cold today!

November 2nd

I am so very thankful for my church.  It is like being in a spiritual oasis after several years of feeling as if we were in a drought.  I am thankful that it is Gospel centered, that every single thing done there is done with the intention of sharing the Gospel, that the Word of God is taught and boldly proclaimed to every age group.  I am thankful for the passion for God that is evident in the lives of the ministers and the members.  I am thankful it is a Real Church, teaching the Real Gospel, and serving the Real Jesus.

November 3rd

I am thankful for the opportunity to homeschool our boys... and I am so very thankful for the indwelling spirit of God who is my strength and my help each and every day! 

November 4th

I am thankful for the blessing of hearing my boys play the piano... I am thankful that the same hands that dig in the dirt, catch lizards, and help their daddy work on cars can play sweet and beautiful songs on the piano.  And I am thankful for that hour on Tuesdays when they have piano lessons and I have a bit of a mental break!

November 5th

I am thankful for the opportunity to sit beside my husband during Wednesday night church classes... many ladies go to church alone.  I am thankful that my husband is a Godly man, that he reads his Bible and studies daily, that he listens to the Word preached and taught throughout the day, that he prays with and for me each day before he leaves to go to work.  I am thankful for his sensitive and caring heart, for his forgiving spirit, and for his love.

November 6th

I am thankful for fun and educational field trips (we went here today), and sweet friends to enjoy them with. What a joy to watch my not so little boys laugh, learn and have fun with their friends! I am thankful for the friendships the Lord has blessed them with, and the opportunity to learn new things right along with them... like the fact that the Indians used deer brains to rub on the dried deer skin to make it smooth (what a gross fact that the boys thought was cool!)

Do you have a thankful heart?  I hope you are finding time to stop and give thanks for your many blessings, today and everyday!

Weeds...

Lately we have had a problem with weeds... 

You know, the kind that just seem to spring up overnight.  The kind that appear out of nowhere after you have just weeded the flower bed, applied fertilizer, watered well, and even sang to the little plants. 

Our weeds have names such as disrespect, discontentment, grumbling, slothfulness and ungratefulness.  They even seem to grow right next to the wonderful flowers of love, joy, thankfulness, helpfulness, respect and patience. 

These weeds have a way of working into our hearts and minds, frequently leaving us frazzled, anxious, frustrated, short-tempered, snappy, and harsh.  It seems they can so quickly strangle the beautiful flowers that were right next to them.

In thinking on this I was reminded of the teaching I heard recently from Angela Thomas.  She taught from Matthew 13 on the parable of the sower and the different soils.  The truth I walked away with that night was I have to fight for the soil of my heart to be good, fertile soil.  I have to fight to be good soil, to make the condition of my  heart ready to receive the Word of God.  I have to fight to keep the soil of my heart from becoming hard and rocky.  I have to fight to have good soil that roots can go down deep into, so those roots can draw nourishment from the nutrients deep in the soil.  I have to fight to keep the cares and worries of this life from snatching away the seeds that are planted in my heart.  I have to fight for the condition of my heart!

How do I do this?  I tend daily (sometimes hourly, many times minute by minute) to the condition of my heart.  I read, study, and pray God's Word.  I pray for God to make my heart a vessel fit for His presence to dwell in.  I pray for God to cleanse me of all unrighteousness, and to fill me with His Holy Spirit.  I pray for my heart to be empty of the stuff of the world and to be filled with the fullness of Christ, to be filled to overflowing with His joy. 

Practically, I commit to spending time in His Word and in prayer daily.  I intentionally find things to be thankful for throughout the day... I especially find things to give thanks for when the weeds begin to start to choke me.  It seems that praise can be a bit like weed killer, they start to shrivel and die!  I can choose joy, even when the days are hard.  I choose joy by focusing my heart and mind on eternity, on the hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God in heaven one day.  I endure just as Jesus did, for the joy set before me, for the hope of an eternity spent with my Savior. 

Angela left us with some questions that night...

What if...

• We pursued God so that all the fullness of the deity dwelled in us? (see Colossians chapters 1 and 2)
• We staked our whole life, every breath we took, on the very Word of God?
• We let God raise us up in every place He's assigned us to, for His glory?
• We really lived as women on assignment, as His representatives, to bring His joy?

I think there would be fewer weeds... and more JOY!


I went to Bible study this morning and we sang "Take My Life and Let It Be"... this phrase from the lyrics keeps coming back to me.  I think it is a key to less weeds and more joy...

Take my moments and my days, 

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Ceaseless praise is bound to result in joy, for our eyes will no longer be fixed on ourselves and all the weeds, but rather on Him and His great love for us.

Ceaseless praise... to the One who deserves all our praise...

Joy... and small miracles...

 A friend and I are praying for one another...

We are praying that we each would have the Joy of the Lord, daily, and that all we do would be done as unto Him in His joy.  We desire to do the mundane things of our lives well, and we long to do them in the joy of the Lord rather than in the grumbling and complaining attitude of our flesh.  We long to be joyful wives, joyful moms, and joyful friends.  We want to be vessels of His joy!  We are praying that His joy would be made full in us (John 15) and that all our springs of joy would be found in Him (Psalm 87).

Well, today, unfortunately like yesterday, started out being a very hard day.  It was as if my joy was snatched away before I could even blink, and all I wanted to do was to sit down in a puddle and cry my eyes out... but I prayed to my Lord.  I told Him that I would not allow this world to steal His joy He had placed in me through His Holy Spirit, that I would fight for it, that I would not allow it to be snatched away without a fight.  I reminded myself that my joy is in the Lord, and not in anything or anyone in this world.  I turned my mind heavenward, and thought about what my Lord has done for me.  I tried to see the events of my morning in an eternal perspective rather than an earthly, temporal perspective.  I texted my friend... and she prayed for me...

Then I received an email... from someone who had no idea about my battle for joy today.  At the close of her email was a Bible verse that jumped off the computer screen and into my heart, God's Word jumped into my heart and ministered comfort and peace to me.  It was Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

I prayed, and thanked the Lord of hosts, thanked Him for fighting for me, and thanked Him for His timely Word.  And then His peace descended in my heart and my mind... and I knew I could walk the rest of this day in the joy of the Lord.


And then....

Later, I witnessed a small, yet powerful miracle... I witnessed the power of God to bring a child to repentance.  I witnessed the power of God to cause a child to become humble, to confess his sin to his mother, and to ask her forgiveness.  What a wonder... to see the power of God at work in the heart of your child! 

So a day that started out hard and tearful, has been redeemed by my Lord.  He is fighting for me, He is equipping and empowering me, He is filling me with His joy, and He is working in the hearts of those in my life!  How I praise Him!

It is Monday.... And Jesus is Enough!

It is Monday...

A homeschooling Monday at that... 

And sometimes homeschooling days are just hard, and sometimes homeschooling Mondays are even harder...

One of the blessings (hidden in disguise) of teaching my boys at home are ALL the moments that present themselves for training their little hearts... I often wonder what kind of shape their sweet little hearts would be in if they went away to school, would the heart even be addressed, would the focus be only on outward appearances and behavior?  It is a blessing that we, yes WE (that includes me too), get to address the issues of our hearts, holding our motives and behaviors up to the mirror of the Word of God, whenever the need arises... which somedays is over and over again!  We get to help each other focus on the strength of the Lord that the Holy Spirit provides for us, and His strength is what enables us to overcome that battle with the flesh and with self.  It is His strength that helps us surrender and submit to the leading and guiding of His Spirit.  His strength is enough!

His strength is enough to carry me through a hard day...
His strength is enough to help me deal with that disrespectful atttitude... one... more... time...
His strength is enough to help me deal with brotherly quarrels and battles with words...
His strength is enough when one child takes 2 hours to do his math work...
His strength is enough when one child is ungrateful for the lunch I lovingly prepared for him...

His strength is enough, and His grace is sufficient for every need.  He is Emmanuel, God with us, and He has been with me today, and for that I am so very grateful.   

Tomorrow is a new day...
His mercies are new every morning...
Oh how great is His faithfulness to me!

Teach me, O Lord...

 I am still here!  I am feeling the stirring and leading to attempt to begin to blog more consistently again.  I feel my Lord would rather me "share" here more often, rather than speed huge chunks of wasted time on social media sites.  I have also had several people (all of whom I had no idea they read my blog!) ask me if I was still blogging, and then encourage me to stick with it... it that was you, thank you, the Lord used you to spur me on!

I have been praying a passage of scripture over myself, and over my family, this past year... It is from Psalm 119, verses 33-40.

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,

And I shall observe it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law

And keep it with all my heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,

For I delight in it.

36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies

And not to dishonest gain.

37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,

And revive me in Your ways.

38 Establish Your word to Your servant,

As that which produces reverence for You.

39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,

For Your ordinances are good.

40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;

Revive me through Your righteousness.

  Almost every time I read and pray this passage, a couple of "snippets" have made me linger on them a bit longer.. and ponder over them a bit.  They are, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain;" and "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways."

Aren't these almost daily battles?

To not be dishonest for personal gain... in even the smallest things, (like when you tell you child you did not just eat a piece of chocolate because you don't want to share with him), but rather to have my heart inclined to the testimonies of God.  I desire to be honest in all things, from the smallest to the largest... when others are looking and when they are not.  I desire to be inclined to choose honesty over dishonesty, especially in the small things that no one other than my Lord Himself would ever know about.  I want my natural inclination to be towards God's testimonies and not to a dishonest word or action.

To turn my eyes away from looking at vanity, to instead be revived in the ways of God... I have been convicted that I have wasted too much time looking at things that are worthless and unfruitful.  These things have no power to revive my heart and my soul, these actually do quite the opposite.  There are times when they have drained me of joy and hope, and instead led me to despair and discouragement.  There are times when they have caused my flesh to rise up, quenching the power of the Spirit in my life.

I have intentionally evaluated what enters my heart and mind through my eyes.  I have found that social media and technology is not always a good thing and has an extremely strong draw that one really has to fight against. I desire to control my use of social media and technology rather than allowing them to control me.  My belief that TV is rarely a good thing was again confirmed.  I have been more intentional in evaluating books and magazines before I spend precious time with my head buried in them. 

As a result, my time "looking" on such things has significantly decreased, and many blessings have resulted. I have found that I am more clearly focused on my children and on teaching them, even if it takes extra time.  Some days I actually have a bit more time to get tasks completed around the house after schooling the boys, and on a really good day time to try a new recipe or cook a good dinner!  In the evenings my mind and heart are more focused on my husband, unless I am just exhausted from my day, and on those days (which seem to be many), I tend to just collapse in the bed.

The best part though is the difference in my thought life.  I find that I am not overly concerned with "likes" and "comments" from others, I am not easily offended because of others words, I am not comparing myself, my husband, and my kids with everyone else.  I am more focused on the Lord and what I am studying in the Word, I think more on the sermon from the previous Sunday, or our discussion in our small group class.  I have more time to pray.  I have more time to spend with "real" people.   I find that I am more eternally focused, more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and much more fulfilled and satisfied with this wonderful life I have been blessed with.

So what about you?  What is your heart inclined to?  What do your eyes spend time on that in turn affects your heart and mind?  I encourage you to incline your heart and mind to God and His Word, there is nothing better to fill your heart and mind with...

"We" Stand Forgiven... All of Us!

We sang "The Power of the Cross" at the end of our church service today... following partaking of the Lord's Supper together as a church family.  My heart was overcome with joy and thankfulness as the four of us stood there and I listened to the words of the song, especially these words...
 

This the pow’r of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a love, what a cost
We stand forgiven at the cross

These words meant more to me today... for when I sang "we" I could for the first time include my entire family in that "we" at the foot of the cross!  I had a visual picture in my mind of the four of us, holding hands, standing at the foot of the cross... with thankful hearts and tear-stained faces...

These words meant more to me today because our Paul gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ on July 8th!  I had the wonderful privilege of praying with him, seeing his tears over his sin, hearing him confess to our Lord Jesus that he is a sinner and needs Him to save him from his sins, cleanse him, and fill him with His Holy Spirit to lead and guide him. 

My mommy heart is filled with joy!  I am so thankful to have witnessed the miracle of Jesus drawing my son to Himself and seeing my Paul receive His love, forgiveness, and grace. 

For the wages of sin is death, 

but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Remembering... with a thankful heart...

"O LORD my God, 

I cried to Thee for help, and 

Thou didst heal me."

Psalm 30:2

It is officially summertime.  When I think of summer now, my thoughts always drift back to the summer of 2010... the toughest summer in my life.  

I look back and I remember... 

I remember the excruciating physcial pain that could rarely be dulled.  I remember the hours of crying because of that pain, and trying hard to hide those tears from my kids, and even sometimes from my husband.  I remember how hard it was to do "normal" things because of the pain... it hurt to drive, to walk through the grocery store, to stand up and cook dinner, to vacuum, to sit in the lounge chairs at the pool, it even hurt to lie in the bed.  I remember how I had gone from running half marathons to being unable to even walk around the block.

But that is not all I remember...

I remember the great faithfulness of my God...

I remember how His mercies were and are new every morning...

I remember the love of friends who prayed for me and helped me...

I remember the comfort I found in the Word of God...

I remember the peace found when crying out to my Lord in prayer...

I remember how my Lord was strong for me when I was so very weak... 

I remember how He gently and graciously carried me through, in the palm of His hand...

I remember that there was not one day that He was not with me, there was no pain that He did not know about, no tear that He did not see come from my eyes...

I remember how He revealed to me that the excruciating pain I experienced with nothing compared to the pain He endured for me on the cross...

I remember that He was to me Emmanuel... God with us...  

Today I remember one of the hardest and toughest seasons of my life... and I remember that He never left my side, He carried me, and praise God, He healed me!

Today marks the 3 year 9 month anniversary of my healing!  How I praise Him for my healing, but I praise Him even more for the lessons learned in those dark and hard days, for His faithfulness, and for His constant loving presence and care.  

Thank you Lord for loving me, for carrying me through, and for healing me... may I never forget...

"Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me;

O LORD, be Thou my helper.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;

Thou hast loosened my sackcloth 

and girded me with gladness;

That my soul may sing praise to Thee,

and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever."

Psalm 30:10-12

I will remember (this is a link to a song you may enjoy, I love to sing it and remember all my Lord has done for me!

 

Diligence, Perseverance... for the Lost

Yesterday I had a wonderful example of how our Lord is diligent and how He perseveres in finding His lost sheep. 

My husband was able to leave work a bit earlier than normal and join us at the park for some play time with friends... another dad was able to be there also, so they struck up a soccer game between the kids and the dads.  Sometime during the game my husband took his wedding ring off and put it in the pocket in his pocket... he thought it would be secure there.  Later during the game he had a bad crash, and down he went... well, unbeknownst to him,out went his wedding ring.  He noticed as they were preparing to leave. 

Friends stayed and helped search for a bit, but eventually everyone had to leave.  The boys and I helped of course, but 9 pm rolled around and I brought the kids home to shower and go to bed; they had a big soccer game the next morning.  My hubby had planned to stay and search till 10... 10:05 he was not home.  I texted him, he replied back he was still searching and staying until at least 11:30, he wanted to sweep the entire field. 

He was very diligent and very precise in his search.  He had the field marked off with cones and a rope.  As he finished a section he would move the cones and rope so that he would not research an area already searched, and so he would not miss a section.  It was dark, so he was searching by flashlight. 

As I thought about him out there at the park, by himself, in the dark, searching for such a small item in such a huge field, I was reminded of our Lord's diligence and perseverance in searching for His lost sheep.  It reminded me of the following scripture passages:

Luke 15:4-7
^4-7 “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

Luke 15:8-10
 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

How thankful I am that my husband treasures our marriage and his wedding ring and what it represents!  My heart is blessed that he would work so hard to find something so little, but yet means so much! 

How wonderful that our Father in Heaven treasures each of  His sheep, and that He is diligent and persevering in finding the one that is lost!  Do you know some lost sheep that need to be found by their Father?  Don't give up in praying for them... don't stop loving them... their Father is still searching, and one day He will find every single one that is His own! 

Can you find the ring in the picture??

It only took my sweet husband about 5 hours!!

Honor and Respect

In my current Bible study we are studying through the book of Malachi... the last book of the Old Testament.  Since this past September we have been studying the Israelite's return to Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reconstruction of the walls around the city. At this time in the history of Israel, in the book of Malachi, sacrifices have resumed at the temple.  But the Lord is not pleased... and He uses Malachi to get His point across...

" 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name.

But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' 7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' 8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.

10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you.

11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.' 13 "You also say, 'My, how tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations." Malachi 1:6-14

God is not pleased... The people are not giving Him their best, they are not respecting and fearing Him for the Great King and Lord that He is.  His name is to be feared among the nations.  Instead they are offering him their "leftovers"... they are saving the best for themselves.  He longs for someone who will close the door to these unacceptable sacrifices and tell the people to quit wasting the trivial amount of effort they are putting forth.  They are going through the motions... they have no heart and no mind in their sacrifices.  

What does it tell the world when we give our Lord a small window of our time?  What does it tell the world when we save the best for ourselves and give away our "leftovers" to those in need?  What does it tell the world when we would rather our kids see all the Disney movies than know the Word of God?  What does it tell the world when we spend the bulk of our time on things that have no eternal value?  What does it tell the world when we allow the filth on tv and in movies to influence our minds and our children's minds more than the Word of God? 

Does that communicate honor and respect for our God? 

God wants our best.  He wants us to live in a way that shows the world that He is a great King and that His name is to be feared.  He wants us to live in a way that communicates His great love for us.  Read God's Word and be astounded and awed at what He has done for you.  Dig deep into His Word and learn of His lavish grace and His lovingkindness that is everlasting.  Do this and your life will become a life of worship to Him... and others will be drawn to Him through you, and He will be honored and glorified through your life of worship. 

Go and read your Bible... then go and offer our great God a sacrifice of praise for all He has done for you! 

(If you do not have a Bible and want one, message me or leave me a comment and I will make sure you get one.)

Sunday Take Aways

Real Jesus

Real Gospel

Real People

"And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."  Acts 5:42

The above is our focus and our theme verse at church for the next year and a half as we study through the book of Acts.  I plan to "journal" here my take aways from our services, so I can look back and remember, and in hopes that I may somehow encourage and spur someone else along in their walk with Jesus.

 

Take aways from our time of worship:

• His wounds have paid my ransom!!
• Hallelujah, What a Savior!!

 

Take aways from preaching from the text of Acts 4:14-31 (you should stop and go read it)...

We desperately need to pray because the world will shake us.  We should never be afraid to pray the name of Jesus.  God allowed Peter and John to be shaken so they would know their foundation was firm.

 

 “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. Acts 4:16-21

We pray because our God is unshakeable.  

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

 

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

 

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Acts 4:24-28

We need courage that can not be shaken... this courage can only come from a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus His Son...

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, Acts:4:29

When God shakes us we will shake the world...

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  Acts:4:31

I am so very thankful His wounds have paid my ransom... my heart is singing "Hallelujah, What a Savior".  I am thankful that I can come to my Lord with my prayers, He can not be shaken.  Through His Spirit He will give me courage that can not be shaken, and as I submit and surrender He will use me to shake my little world, and maybe even beyond the borders of this little world I live in.

Go, love, and serve in His name...

Be. My. Witnesses.

Acts 1:8
"but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

At church our pastor is preaching through Acts... I can't seem to get his message from a few weeks ago out of my mind.  He preached on Acts 1:3-11.

 My heart wants to share my "take aways"...  sometimes it is good to get things down on paper... or rather on a computer screen.

In Acts 1:8 we see 2 things.  We see POWER... and we see PURPOSE...

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  That power is given for a purpose, that purpose is so that we shall be His witnesses.

Be.  (not do)

Being involves the totality of our lives.  It is not about doing but about being - the rule of Christ is to BE over everything.  Being a follower of Christ should change everything in our lives, it is not something that we add to our to do list or check off our bucket list.  It is not something that we turn on or off.  Once we have a personal, real, private relationship with Christ He begins to change every area of our life.  He infiltrates everything that we are... and we start to BE different.  We become His witnesses...

Our pastor shared quite a list of things that he can personally bear witness to.  His list prompted me to think about what things I can bear witness to, so I decided to come up with my own list...

What can I bear witness to??

I can bear witness to:

• The power of Christ to redeem me from a life of sin.
• The love of Christ which meets the deepest needs of my heart.
• The comfort of God which brings peace and hope to a broken and hurting heart.
• The healing power of God to physically heal me completely from debilitating pain and sickness.
• The power of God to safely bring twin boys into this world, 8 weeks early and with a battle with pre-term labor for 2 1/2 weeks prior.
• The joy that Christ can give, even in the hardest and darkest of times.
• The strength that Christ provides when I am so very weak.
• The wisdom that can come only from God that enables me to be a wife, mom, and homeschool teacher.
• My Lord's faithfulness that all seasons and times.
• The power of forgiveness to wash a heart clean.
• The mighty power of the hand of God, which has provided protection and provision for our family.
• The shelter to be found in Christ in the midst of a raging storm.
• The help that God provides when I lift my eyes up to Him.

If you would like to listen to his sermon, you can find it here (click on the word here and it will take you there.)   If you do not have time to listen to the entire sermon, yet want to hear what he can bear witness to, which I would encourage as I found it very moving and very heartfelt, go to about 29 minutes in...


What about you?  What can you bear witness to?  Will you??  He gives us the power, for that very purpose.


 

A day of lasts...

Today is a day of  lots of lasts... So I am trying to slow time down, savor every moment, and linger and enjoy these boys the Lord has entrusted to us.

• The last morning to get Good Morning hugs from a couple of 9 year olds...
• The last day to hear 9 year old little boys giggle and laugh...
• The last day to fix breakfast, lunch and dinner for 9 year old appetites...
• The last day to snuggle and read with my 9 year old boys...
• The last day to teach these 9 year old boys, through all the wiggles and questions that interrupt our days...
• The last day to get a picture of them being 9....
• The last day to savor 9 year old smiles, hugs, and grins...
• The last day to "ooo" and "ahhh" over 9 year old Lego creations....
• The last day to tuck in my 9 year olds and say their bedtime prayers...

For tomorrow they will be 10!  I do look forward to all the new beginnings that come with 10, but where has the time gone? We have passed the halfway mark... I have less time with them now than I have already had with them... Less time before they can leave our nest and go where the Lord directs them. It makes my heart ache a bit and my eyes a bit watery.  It truly is overwhelming... so much we want them to know and to learn, and time is slipping away.  We must be diligent, we must be intentional, we must live with purpose and passion to raise them as our Lord would have us to...


Lord, I thank you for one more day with the blessings you have given us... I ask for many more days with them.  Help us to disciple them for Your glory and for Your purposes.  May they grow up to be mighty men of God, mighty in prayer, mighty in the Word, mighty warriors for Your Kingdom.  I am humbled and in need of your abundant grace to be their mom...