Thought Provoking Blog

I really enjoy following the blog Generation Cedar. http://generationcedar.blogspot.com/

Kelly's just started a series on her blog about raising daughters as cornerstones - as in "May our sons be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;" Psalm 144:12
What a wonderful task God calls us to - what an important meaningful calling!!!!

I find Kelly's blog to be very encouraging and thought provoking. Hope you enjoy it too.

Have a wonderful day!

In His love.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, March 30, 2009...

Outside my window...the sun is shining and it promises to be a lovely day!

I am thinking of (praying for)...a sweet family from church who lost their house in the tornado last year (the same one that hit us), moved back in the fall, and then, unexpectedly, had the dad go to Jesus last Tuesday night. Also a friend/coworker of my sister-in-law lost her home to stream line winds last week. Most everything she owned is gone. God is taking care of her though and her faith is strong. (Please pray for them if you think of it.)

I am thankful for...my sweet husband and girls.

From the learning rooms...we'll be getting ready for a speech competition the end of this week along with our normal school work.

From the kitchen...apple coffee cake is almost done baking. I'm also planning to make 6 loaves of bread today since the rest of this week will be so busy I doubt I'll have much time for baking.

I am wearing...a t-shirt (with a cute little puppy on it) and jeans (and cozy slippers too!) :)

I am creating...bread (mentioned above) ;)

I am going...to go get said coffee cake out of the oven (the timer just beeped as I typed this).

I am reading...1 Samuel & 1 Chronicles (and loving what God's showing me - He is so good, faithful, & patient); also still working through God's Smuggler. It's an awesome book - I read it a couple years ago but am rereading it (and trying to take notes) so I can present it to missionary geography club in a couple weeks.

I am hoping...that we'll be able to glorify God and focus on Him rather than ourselves even in the mist of a busy week.

I am hearing...Charles Stanley preaching on the radios and my children discussing the age of our dog in dog years/human years. :)

Around the house...we most certainly need to bless/clean the house today.

One of my favorite things...hearing fun conversations my children are sharing.

A few plans for the rest of the week: heading to a speech and debate tournament the end of this week. (Thankful that my mom will be able to attend with us.)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Wishing you lots of good kisses this week from those who are precious to you.

Have a wonderful week.

Be sure to check out http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ for more simple woman's daybook entries.

Starting Points

As I wrote in a previous post http://http//adelightfulinheritance.blogspot.com/2009/03/equipping-next-generation.html I feel a leading of the Lord to truly focus on equipping my children to be lights in this world as well as equipping them for whatever God has for them in the future. In light of this, I'm looking at using Starting Points worldview curriculum (by David Quine of Cornerstone Curriculum http://www.cornerstonecurriculum.com/Curriculum/SP/sp.htm) for my oldest. If any of you have used this curriculum and would be willing to share with me what you liked (or didn't care for as the case may be), I'd be very grateful. :)
Thanks.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
In His love,
Tina

Better Than IHOP :)

At least that was the comment from a young friend of ours who had spent the night and enjoyed these great pancakes for breakfast. (I laughed to myself knowing that he had no idea that these were actually good for him too.) :)

Our family loves these pancakes. I got the recipe from Urban Homemaker http://articles.urbanhomemaker.com/ - one of my favorite sources of great recipes.


BLENDER BATTER WAFFLES OR PANCAKES

1. Preheat waffle iron or pancake griddle to highest temperature.

2. Place in blender and blend at high speed for4-5 minutes or until smooth:
1 3/4 Cups buttermilk
1 egg
2 TB olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 TB honey
1/3 Cup raw brown rice
1/2 Cup pastry wheat or kamut (I use hard white wheat - use the berries, not the flour)
1/2 Cup rolled oats
The secret to getting light and tender waffles is the thinness of the batter. The batter should always swirl about a vortex in the blender. If not, add a little liquid until the hole reappears. This is very important.

Be sure to blend an entire 5 minutes. Once I stopped blending in less than 5 minutes and we had chunky pancakes. :)

3. Blend in briefly just before baking:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder (non-aluminum)


4. Pour thin batter from blender onto seasoned, hot waffle iron or pancake griddle sprayed with olive oil non-stick spray. Bake about 4 minutes. Don't Peek!
I normally use this batter to make pancakes. I sprinkle on extras while they're cooking - chocolate chips, pecans, and blueberries and pecans - that way everyone gets what they like.
Yum!!!!

Human Reason vs. God's Word

I love how God's Word is relevant at all times in history.

I am just finishing the book of Judges in my Bible reading and I noticed numerous times the phrase
"In those days Israel had no king; eveyone did as he saw fit."

This phrase sure seems to apply often to today's world.

Coupled with this, the girls and I are learning about the Enlightenment time period in history - when some people began to see human reason as their god - in other words, rely on their own thinking/reasoning above God's Word.

I'm also very aware that this mindset is still very prevalent today. How often are we tempted to rely on ourselves and our own reasoning rather than seeing (and believing) what God's Word has to say about a subject. I know that I experience that. While God's Word doesn't tell me specifically what to wear today or what to cook for breakfast (little daily decisions that we have to make hundreds of times a day), His Word does give me a standard by which to live my life (including everyday decisions such as dress and food or how I respond to people). Mind you, it's a standard I fall short of multiple times a day - which is exactly why He sent His Son as our Savior.

His Word also shows me His worldview and any other worldview (including the humanistic one which is so prevalent in our culture) is substandard to His worldview.

I'm so thankful that He gives us His Word and His thoughts to think about throughout the day.

Have a great day!

Raising Maidens of Virtue

At bedtimes I'm reading through Raising Maidens of Virtue (A Study of Feminine Loveliness for Mothers and Daughters) with my girls. (I started to try to go through this with just my older two, but found it hard to find time to do this without including the little sisters. It works for our family to do it out loud and discuss it together. I just skim over anything that's not quite appropriate for the littlest and hope to discuss more detail with my older ones - but I'm sure they read between the lines.)
In any case, last night we read Chapter 3 - A Noble Calling. It was an excerpt of From Dark to Dawn. I found the last paragraph to be so full of wisdom that I wanted to share it with you all:

"And so I learned that what makes any calling noble is its being commanded by God, and what makes anything good is its being given by God; and that honest contenetment consists not in persuading oursleves that our things are the very best int he world, but in believeing they are the best for us, and giving God thanks for them."

Wow - what an encouragement for myself and to share with my girls. Not only looking at my calling as a wife and mother as noble BECAUSE it's been given to me by God. And also, not comparing for a sense of pride but appreciating our callings because they are God given.

Simple Woman's Daybook 3/23/09

Here's this week's entry for "Simple Woman's Daybook" that I found at this blog http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/Have a wonderful Monday. :)

FOR TODAY (Monday, March 23, 2009)...
Outside my window...the sun is shining and the birds are singing. (I love spring mornings!)

I am thinking...that I need to get the girls up so we can have breakfast and Bible time before the produce co-op.

I am thankful for...God's mercies that are new every morning and His faithfulness.

From the learning rooms...we plan to enjoy our normal school work, continue enjoying history and science, and reading Swiss Family Robinson.

From the kitchen...Dinner meals planned this week include pork loin, parmesan chicken, roast, lemon chicken, and spaghetti.

I am wearing...my p.j.'s.

I am creating...still need to work on the dress for my daughter. (Did I mention my tendancy to procrastinate and the fact that I'm a bit intimidated.) :)

I am going...(Lord willing), to enjoy watching my older two girls perform their duo interpretive speech "Bedtime for Frances" at our local library time this Thursday.

I am reading...the Bible in a year (in the middle of Judges), Feminine Appeal, and God's Smuggler.

I am hoping...to find time for a walk in the sunshine this week.

I am hearing...the school bus outside picking up our neighbors (and thankful, once again, that God has called us to homeschool).

Around the house...my honey has gone to work, my girls are sleeping, and my dog wants to go outside.

One of my favorite things...spring (and fall) time weather - cool mornings, very comfortable temperatures in the afternoon. This weather begs us to come outside and enjoy it!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I'm thankful for sweet friendships God has provided my girls.

Have a great week!

Week in Review

This week has flown but it has been a blessing.

We've accomplished a good bit of our school work - including history and science (which is the fun part). :)

Tuesday morning two of the girls had their piano lessons and that afternoon my 3rd had her ear rechecked. (Her eardrum had ruptured a month ago but God has completely healed it.)

Wednesday my non-piano playing girls had their art class. We all enjoyed church that night also.

Thursday afternoon we enjoyed drama class with some homeschool friends of ours. Our group plans to read Swiss Family Robinson at home and act out scenes from what we've read and do related activities when we're all together.

Friday was such fun. We got to go on a great fieldtrip to a nearby nature center. We had lots of friends there and enjoyed the fellowship and enjoying God's beautiful world. (The weather was great. It was a wonderful way to welcome spring!) Here are some photos:



Here's the youngest group enjoying their nature walk. The older two groups learned and practiced compass skills during this time as well as enjoying their own nature walks. When the younger group returned to the pavilion, they were taught how to use a compass while the older two groups learned about animal skins and the different ways God has made them.


This is a beautiful pond we were able to enjoy on our walk.


After the fieldtrip was over, a few families stayed to enjoy a picnic lunch. While we enjoyed eating and visiting, one of the tour guides brought us a tree frog and baby turtle to see and hold. :)



After lunch we enjoyed a little hike on our own.
It was a terrific fieldtrip and a wonderful day.


That afternoon my 3rd had a birthday party to attend. My sweetheart is also installing an air conditioner for a friend from church this weekend, so we stopped over to see and help him that evening.


Today we picked up the 3rd from her sleepover and took our oldest to town for Child Evangelism Fellowship. (She's been selected as a summer missionary and is so excited. We are thrilled for her because we know how called she feels to the mission field and how much she is drawn to evangelism.)


Hope you all had a wonderful week and have a blessed time tomorrow in worship.

Equipping the Next Generation

As I've been going about our routine this week, there have been some interesting things that God has brought to my mind.

I've homeschooled my children all along and feel so very blessed to have the opportunity to homeschool them. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is God's will for our family and R & I both love it and are very committed to it. Our number one priority in raising our children, including homeschooling, is to raise them to love and serve the Lord.

That said, my mindset toward homeschooling has been a journey through the years. When I first began homeschooling, I thought that I would approach it the same way as I taught school. (I even called around to some of the private schools to find out what curriculum they used, so I could use the same.) All this happened when my oldest daughter was the ripe old age of 4. :)
God led me down a different path and we were much more relaxed than I originally envisioned and loved the results. I saw my daughter learning and flourishing. The amount of information she retained impressed me. My goal became to encourage my children to love learning.

Time marched on, my children grew, and not all of them loved having to work on their reading and math. God moved me into another stage. While I wanted them to love learning, I also let them know that my job is to educate them. Sometimes we enjoy what we need to do, sometimes we'd rather do other things, but ultimately it's important that we do what needs to be done. My goal at that point became to educate my children. (I still hoped they would love learning and encouraged it but I didn't make all my decisions based on if they'd "love" this or not. Math can never compete with the fun of jumping on a trampoline.) :)

This year, I've felt God leading me further on this homeschooling path. As our family has begun to really pay attention to politics and what's going on nationally and internationally, I've felt a burden to equip my children. I've assured them that this does include reading, writing, and arithmetic, but the purpose is to equip them for whatever God has for their lives.

As I was mulling this all over, I visited a blog I enjoy and read this wonderful post:
http://hskubes.blogspot.com/2007/06/are-we-raising-daniels.html It's about how God showed her this week that Daniel and his friends were taken from their homes as children and yet they were equipped to stand firm. She relates it as a challenge to herself (and to us) - are we preparing/equipping our children to be able to stand in whatever circumstances God allows in the future. (It's an excellent post, I highly recommend reading it.)

This week I was thinking over that post and also some information I'd received about something David Wilkerson had posted on his blog. I've also said for years that I truly think that God is preparing the next generation and is doing something really special within them. (I look at the homeschooling movement, how much more I see them thinking outside the box and living radically for God, the Rebelution/Do Hard Things mindset, etc.) I have a tendency to imagine the status quo remaining - things going on the way they are now - and envisioned God using them (the next generation) with things kind of like they are now, we'd all just be older. That may happen but this week I realized that He may be raising them up to be used in very difficult times. While that sounds depressing, it really isn't - it's encouraging. Imagine our children shining brightly in the midst of darkness. (Isn't that where God shines the brightest?) Daniel was able to witness to a pagan king. God is amazing, He's in control, He can do all things, and His way is always best. He loves our children more than we do and we can completely trust Him. What a privilege that He chooses to involve us and use us. What a privilege to raise our children to know Him. How we should number our days and use them wisely for His glory.
Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

I don't know what the future holds, but I know it's been filtered through His fingers of love.

Muffins (mmm) :)

The girls and I love to eat muffins for breakfast. Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

This morning we're having Cinnamon Streusel Muffins:





1 egg
3/4 c. milk
1/3 c. oil (I use canola)
1 3/4 c. (freshly ground whole wheat) flour
1/4 c. sugar (I use sucanat)
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Grease 12 muffin cups. (I grease mine by rubbing a stick of butter in the muffin cups.)

Beat egg; beat in milk and oil.l Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture. (I kind of layer the dry ingredients in the bowl and mix them a bit before stirring them into the egg mixture.) Stir just until moistened. (Don't overmix.) Spoon into muffin tins.

For struesel:

1/2 c. chopped nuts (I leave this off some of the muffins)
1/2 c. brown sugar (again - I use sucanat)
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbs. melted butter

Mix streusel and top muffins. (Or put 1/2 struesel in middle of muffins and other 1/2 on top.)

Bake 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

These muffins are a big hit with all the girls.


Earlier this week we tried a new recipe:

Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Muffins



1 c. flour (again, I use freshly ground whole wheat)
1 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar (I use sucanat)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. plain yogurt
4 Tbs. butter (melted)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen, thawed and drained)
1 tsp. grated lemon peel (zest)

Preheat over to 425 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups.
Blend together flour, oats, brown sugar/sucanat, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Stir together yogurt, melted butter, egg, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour yogurt mixture into center of dry ingredients. Stir just until blended. Fold in blueberries and lemon zest.
Divide batter into muffin cups and bake 12 - 14 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pan and then completely on wire rack.

And finally (no picture, sorry, but trust me they're good) :)


Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
2 1/4 c. flour (freshly milled) :)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. buttermilk (I put a bit of lemon juice in my measuring cup and then add regular milk to it)
1 egg
1/2 c. oil (I use 1/4 c. olive oil and 1/4 c. canola oil)
1/2 c. honey

Measure dry ingredients into bowl. Add liquids and mix just until well blended.
Mash 2 - 3 bananas and stir the bananas and 1/4 - 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips into muffin mixture. Drop by spoonfuls into greased muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. (This recipe makes 18 muffins.)

Simple Woman's Daybook

Here's this week's entry for "Simple Woman's Daybook" that I found at this blog http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/Have a wonderful Monday. :)

FOR TODAY (Monday, March 16, 2009)...

Outside my window...rain is drizzling.

I am thinking...that I'm thankful it's cozy inside and we don't have any where to go this morning. :)

I am thankful for...a great, challenging sermon in church last night encouraging us to grow in our walk with Christ (which doesn't just happen but takes spending time in God's word and training to become more like Him) and also in bringing issues to God instead of responding with our own knee jerk reactions.

From the learning rooms...we'll be continuing on with our normal seat work and enjoying world history and science. I also plan to start a read aloud - _Mr. Revere and I_ (as told by Paul Revere's horse, of course). :)

From the kitchen...banana chocolate chip muffins for breakfast (yum!). :) Dinner meals planned this week include spaghetti, parmesan chicken, tacos, homemade pizza, and turkey loin.

I am wearing...jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt (and cozy socks).

I am creating...a dress for my youngest daughter. I bought the material and pattern over a year ago. Cut it out a couple weeks ago. Trying to actually put it together. (I'm not a seamstress, though I want to be able to sew, so I'm a bit intimidated and tend to procrastinate.) :)

I am going...to make breakfast as soon as I finish this post. :)

I am reading...the Bible in a year (just finishing Joshua), Feminine Appeal, and God's Smuggler.

I am hoping...to clean the house today. (The girls don't know yet.)

I am hearing...rain falling outside. (It's now more than a drizzle.)

Around the house...3 of my daughters are asleep and my 2nd daughter is patiently waiting her turn for the computer so she can post a daybook entry on her blog.

One of my favorite things...dressed up princesses. (See photo below.) :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Have a great week!

London burning

The girls and I are enjoying Story of the World, Volume 3 for our history. We especially love the activities.

Yesterday's reading included England's Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and the plague and London fire. The culmunation of the lesson - they colored some pictures of houses similar to those in London and we set it on fire. (Of course, we were supposed to mount the paper on cardboard, attach signs, make it look really cute. I figured since we were about to torch it, we'd go the easy route.)

A quote from one of the girls (while setting fire to "London"):

"School kids have fire drills. Homeschool kids get to play with fire."

My Alarm Clock

Most mornings Jehoshaphat comes to let us know it's time to get up - around 6:30 a.m. (or whenever he hears one person has gotten out of bed). He's been known to walk up and down the hallway meowing. I used to think it was because he was hungry since he always runs to his food bowl. However, I began to notice that half the time there's still food in his bowl from the night before. He just knows that when I get up in the morning, I work around the kitchen and he wants company when he eats. :)

Yesterday morning I knew I was tired or crazy or a bit of both when I found myself arguing with the cat! The conversation went something like this:

"Meow"

"Hush"

"Meow"

"You'll just have to wait"

"Meow"

"Be quiet"

"Meow"

"Look I'm going to brush my teeth first, you'll have to be patient"

"Meow"

Then, of course, I realized that I was arguing with a cat and put the conversation to an end. :)

Yep - we're homeschoolers :)

Yesterday my youngest two daughters and I were reading their science lesson. (We're using one of Apologia's elementary books - zoology 1. I highly recommend all their books - they're wonderful.)
Back to the story - we happened to be reading about how God designed a birds body for flight. It turns out that the breast of the bird is actually it's flight muscles (enabling him to flap his wings). We read and enjoyed that in the afternoon.
Not long after that, my second daughter asked what we were having for dinner (chicken breast). Putting our new knowledge to work we told her we having "flight muscles" for dinner. Definitely brought an "ewwww" from her and laughter from us. (What can I say, we may have an odd sense of humor but at least we're all on the same page.) :)

modest fashion week giveaway

As you've seen on my sidebar, this week Joy at her stay-at-home missionary blog is hosting a modesty fashion week. She's hosting wonderful guest posters offering thought provoking, encouraging articles. She's also hosting a giveaway at http://sahmissionary.blogspot.com/2009/03/modest-fashion-week-game-plan-and.html . Lots of wonderful gifts (such a numerous gift certificates as well as purses). Prizes are always such fun but, best of all, the posts are encouraging and thought provoking. My girls and I are enjoying following her blog. I encourage you to check it out also.
In His love,
Tina

Simple Woman's Daybook

Here's this week's entry for "Simple Woman's Daybook" that I found at this blog http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/Have a wonderful Monday. :)

FOR TODAY (Monday, March 9, 2009)...

Outside my window...it feels like spring and I can hear birds singing (and my dog whining at the door asking to come inside). :)

I am thinking...that God is so good to forgive us and not see our sins any longer.

I am thankful for...yesterday spent with my family.

From the learning rooms...we hope to enjoy a "normal" week of school work - also finishing Bulletproof George Washington and starting back with world history.

From the kitchen...lemon chicken for dinner tonight. Other dinner plans this week include roast, parmesan chicken, and broccoli cheese soup.

I am wearing...a lime green t-shirt and jeans.

I am creating...memories (if I'll just remember to slow down and enjoy them!).

I am going...to stay home today - yeah!!!

I am reading...the Bible in a year & Feminine Appeal. (Enjoyed Kirk Cameron's biography last week - it was great. His ministry "Way of the Master" is really good.)

I am hoping...to get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather today.

I am hearing...my girls talking and birds singing.

Around the house...we need to go eat breakfast. :)

One of my favorite things...hugs and kisses from my family - flowers picked out of the yard and brought to me by my little girls.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I love the classic Winnie the Pooh stories. If you haven't read them, they are such a treat - I'd highly recommend them. :)

Have a wonderful week!

This week

This is what we woke up to last Sunday morning. What a treat!!!!

As I wrote in a previous post, the last 3 weeks were full of events that are not part of our normal routine. This week was a return to routine (which actually felt kind of nice). :)

Monday morning I went to help sort produce at our organic produce co-op while the girls got started on their school work. The rest of the day was spent on school work, playing the wii (too cold to go outside), and normal household things.

Tuesday morning the oldest two girls had their piano lessons, we got some school work accomplished, and took the oldest two to the orthodontist that afternoon.

Wednesday morning we got to stay home (such a treat after not being home Monday and Tuesday mornings) - celebrated by having coffee cake for breakfast. :) We got our school work done in the morning and the youngest two had art class in the afternoon. That night we enjoyed Awana and Word of Life at church.

Thursday morning was another morning at home with our normal routine and that afternoon we ran errands and enjoyed drama class with some of our homeschooling friends.

Friday morning we enjoyed the morning at home with our normal routine. My oldest had an interview with Child Evangelism Fellowship to be a summer missionary. (She is so excited. She has such a heart for missions and for reaching people with the good news of Christ.) After the interview, we went to speech class.

Today we got up and cleaned the house. (It was so very needed!)

After cleaning, the girls have been enjoying various things:

J desperately wants to be a big sister so she's decided one of her baby dolls is our new little sister. She asked L to help teach her how to take care of the baby.

K had fun posting on her blog.

R enjoyed painting.

This afternoon the girls and I plan to attend a baby shower for R's sister-in-law.

R has been very busy at work this week. We'll enjoy being with him tomorrow.

We look forward to worshipping God tomorrow with our church family and enjoying a day of rest. :)

Memory

A sweet quote I want to try to remember:
One day we were just hanging out as a family and I was snuggling up to my honey when my 3rd daughter tried to get in the middle of the snuggle. We giggled and I told her that was my spot - he was my husband before she was born. She thought for about 10 seconds then told me that she should get the spot because I didn't meet him until I was 15 but she's known him her WHOLE life. :)
Gotta love it!

Motherhood

The topic today on the Titus 2 Blog Party is motherhood.

I love that topic!!! :)

I've always wanted to be a mom and, growing up, eagerly looked forward to that time. (I see the same in my girls. My 6 year old told me the other day that, while she wants Jesus to return, she really hopes the rapture will happen after she has kids. She then told me that I'm so lucky because, when the rapture happens, I have kids. Even as I told her that I understood how she felt but, since God is so good and perfect, we can completely trust Him to do what's best, I remember feeling the same way when I was young.)

I know without a doubt that this is God's calling for my life. I remember telling my husband a few years ago that, if I could have picked a life for myself, this would be it. I am incredibly blessed. When my oldest girls were young I remember talking to my grandmother expressing to her how wonderful it was to know without a doubt that I was in the center of God's plan for my life. Jesus promised His yoke is easy and His burden is light. When in the center of God's will for us, the yoke is easy and burden light. (Mind you, not perfect but easy and light because He's helping us.)

This does not mean that life is perfect. We have our days that are frustrating. Clutter constanly threatens to overtake our house. (In fact, yesterday my 9 year old pointed out that, though her daddy and I seem to always be cleaning the house, it never gets clean.) :) I get tired and cranky (just ask my kids - or my sweet husband). But, although my flesh definitely shows itself, I know that I am very blessed and am thankful that God has allowed me to be a wife and mother.

One of the neatest things is how God shows me things about Himself through my experiences as a parent. I remember taking my oldest for her first shots in the doctor's office. I stood there waiting for the nurse to come in, looking at my sweet baby and crying. (That's me that was crying, not my baby. She was happily smiling, which made me feel worse.) I remember thinking that I must be the only mom in the world silly enough to stand crying because her baby was about to get shots that would hurt. Then God showed me a glimpse into Himself and His nature. Here I was with my baby whom I loved more than my own life. She had no idea that she was about to get a shot but I knew it was coming. I knew that it was for her own good and would help her in the long run, but that it would hurt for a few minutes right now. It made me so sad to see her go through pain, even though I knew that it would be best for her overall. I realized that God is heartbroken watching us go through pain that we must sometimes experience - even though He can and does work it for our good (if we love and follow Him). Still, what a picture of His Father's heart for us. He is amazing!

Motherhood is an amazing gift and blessing.

Titus 2 Blog Party

I wanted to participate in the Titus 2 Blog Party (link in my sidebar). What a wonderful opportunity to participate with other likeminded women in encouraging one another as we seek to follow the Lord.

A bit of information about me:
I'm a follower of Jesus and thankful that I'm loved by God. It's humbling to realize that the same God who created the entire universe loves me, died for me, and wants me with Him. It's amazing to realize that He knows everything about me, from the number of hairs on my head to my innermost thoughts, and yet He still loves me more than I can comprehend. He's amazing in the way He loves us, saves us, and showers us with blessings. I love how He teaches me daily (and I have so much to learn!).

I'm blessed to be married to a wonderful man. He was my first date, my high school sweetheart, is my partner in life, and my best friend. (He's also so handsome that he still sometimes takes my breath away after being married for 17 years.) ;)

I'm also blessed to be the homeschooling mom to 4 beautiful daughters. I love them and love that I am able to spend so much time with them, enjoying daily conversations, and training them to bring them up in the Lord. They are all amazing people and I love seeing how God is shaping them as they grow and look forward to seeing His plans unfold for their lives. I love my "job". :)

Life's not perfect but I am certainly blessed and thankful.

Snow

Snow is beautiful (and lots of fun - the kids love it!) :)

Here are some snow pictures for you:

Geography Fair photos

The girls had a great time at the Geography Fair. L represented India and K, R, & J worked with two families of our friends to represent India. We loved seeing all the displays and enjoying the tasty food. Here are some photos.