Homeschool Calendar Review

As a Mom of a 10 year old boy and 8, 4, and 2 year old girls, I have spent some time in teaching dates, calendars, months, seasons, and scheduling! One product I really love is Melissa and Doug's Magnetic Calendar!

This was given to us by my parents one Christmas, and we hang it in our homeschool room. At least once a week, we go over our schedule and apply the proper magnets to the proper days!
To order, click here:
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-133-Magnetic-Calendar/dp/B00004KHAD

Some recent pictures...

Puppy Love for Ashlyn!

Group hug from Ashi!

Alex caught a fish in the neighborhood pond!

Dan and I speak at Alex's graduation... He's SO big! :)

I put Mosby's bed up on the coffee table so I could polish the floors... and he jumped up there to sleep!

And Stonewall the Chihuahua takes a nap in a doll carrier! :)

Yummmmm! Ashi enjoys a Bruster's Icecream!

Avery looks either excited or cold... :)

We hope you enjoy your summer, too!!

Looking for Followers!

Hi Everyone!

I am trying to gain more followers to my blog so I can have more give-aways on here! Please take a moment to follow me on my blog, and you'll be the first to know when I give something away!

Thank you!

"...But take heart! For I have overcome the world!"

This morning, I awoke early to have a private devotional time. I was feeling down because my 8 year old has had a fever since last Thursday, and I really thought it would have passed by now. That kid must have an immune system that takes a lot of vacations. She catches everything coming and going!

I went to my seat, and opened my computer. I wasn't fully awake enough to plunge into the Bible yet, so first, I checked email and Twitter on my laptop.

In my Twitter updates, there was a blog from a man to whom I am connected. I don't personally know him, but at some point, we connected on Twitter- I have no idea when or why. I clicked on his blog updates, and 5 minutes later, my blood was boiling. There were many political posts on there (any of you who truly know me, know I am NOT a fan of Barack Obama), and most were about as far left as you can get. I've heard it all by now, as most of us have, but I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open.

This man actually wrote a letter to unborn babies, telling them how lucky they all are going to be in life, because Barack Obama was elected President. This disturbed me on a number of levels, the least of which is certainly NOT the fact that, because of Obama, all the young, uninformed, misled, stressed out mothers-to-be, will have an even easier time murdering their "unwanted" babies. I instantly wrote this man a novel in his comments section, with many of my thoughts on his post. Another thing that bothers me is the ideal that man should go through life without "leaving his mark" on nature (Don't misunderstand...I agree that we need to take care of the treasures God has given us!). But then to praise a man who stands firm in his belief that a woman should be able to choose whether or not she allows her own child to live. Do you see double standards here??

After I left my very long comment for him, I just had to "x" out of the blog. I really just couldn't see any more of it. I prayed that God would really speak to me in my devotion to Him this morning, and I opened my Bible randomly. I always think of our Pastor when I do this. He said, "you have to be careful when you ask God to lead you to a part in your Bible that He wants you to focus on- it can be dangerous!" This morning, for me, it was.

I turned straight to John 16:16, where Jesus is preparing his disciples for the day they will no longer be able to dine with Him in person. The verse that jumped out at me was, "I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

Now, I have read this verse a hundred times. But have you ever noticed that on a different day, a different verse will speak to you in a different way?? That's what happened to me today.

It is so easy for me to think the world is falling apart under our current administration. Every single day, as I read the news on my computer, a few minutes later, I walk away out of depression. I honestly am standing with my mouth open many days, unbelieving of what I am reading- whether it be laws that are passed, comments that are made, terrible incinuations in speeches, or just the gall that comes with all of it.

But after reading my verses this morning, I came to realize one thing. He really DOES have the whole world in His hands! How terrible must it have been for those disciples once they REALLY realized what Jesus was trying to tell them on that day? The SAVIOUR of the entire planet was getting ready to be brutally "murdered" right before their very eyes! GOD!! Our KING!! Jesus Christ, our only hope, was getting ready to be nailed to a slab of wood, tortured, mocked, and KILLED!

I truly cannot imagine what the disciples must have felt that day! They must have known that the world was coming to an end. They must have thought the sun would never have the audacity to shine again-- how could it!? How could life go on after such an event???

But, even knowing what was to come, Jesus assured them, "...But take heart! For I have overcome the world!" Jesus is saying to them, "Don't get down about all the bad things that are going to happen to you- I am WAY bigger than any of it!!"

Now, don't misunderstand me... Is it important to fight for what is right? Of course!! Must we stand firm in the face of evil? Absolutely! Should we "turn the other cheek," even as those in the White House seek to create an abortion "easy street?" No way!!!!

But can someone as small as a President of the United States undo a promise that was given to us a couple thousand years ago by our Lord, the God of all Creation? Ha! Not a chance.

Faith Like a Child

The Bible tells us that we should have faith like a child. Have you ever really thought about what that would look like?

This morning, in considering my hectic and frustrating day yesterday, I thought long and hard about what having faith like a child would encompass.

Yesterday, I was trying to revive two computers that had crashed, I had lost a software disc that I paid a fortune for, and I was cleaning my house from a dog who had a stomach issue (I'll spare you the details, my friends...), all while navigating a stack of laundry taller than me and being a nurse to my second oldest, who has a 102 degree fever.

Many times throughout the day, my youngest two daughters would come to me and ask if I would hold them. At least a few times, I told them, "I will in just a minute...", but I would get distracted by some other project, and it wouldn't happen.

My girls would preoccupy themselves with eachother, a toy, a cartoon, or a drawing. Maybe an hour or so later, they would patiently come back and ask again. When I was able to put my work aside for a few moments, I would either hold them or sit with them. They would laugh and giggle, joke about silly things, play recklessly, hug and kiss me freely... always without a care in the world. They could have easily said, "I waited for you to hold me for a couple of hours, and all we're doing is sitting on the couch. Can't we do something more FUN??" But they didn't.

All they wanted was my time. The love that I have for them is all they desire. And even when they don't physically FEEL it (because I'm engrossed in a project, etc), they still know it's there, and they still know I haven't forgotten them. They have 100% trust in me that I will take care of them and love them, and they don't go out looking for someone or something else to sustain them.

This morning, in remembering the events of my day yesterday, I couldn't help but think- what if we lived our lives this way?

What if, when we asked God for something, we waited on HIS timing, instead of demanding things RIGHT NOW when we think we need it?

What if, when we were given the chance to love, we loved freely, openly, and without reservation?

What if we didn't have such high expectations in men, and enjoyed all the little treasures God gives us along the way?

What if we relied 100% on HIS love for us, knowing no one, and nothing else could fill our void?

What if, today, you focus on knowing He is there, wanting you also, instead of thinking God is some untouchable, unreachable and distant being?


Jeremiah 31:3 (New International Version)
3 The LORD appeared to us from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

A Woman Inspired

Have all you Blogging/Tweeting/Facebooking/Social Networking ladies signed up for "A Woman Inspired" online conference yet??

If not, be sure to! There's a link on the side of my blog! It's going to be AMAZING!!!

"See" you there!!!

Blogging comes with a price tag…

Many of you have asked me how I have time to blog, facebook, tweet, etc.  Well, I just make the time, because it’s therapy for me!

But, I do pay for the time I spend at the computer…