Thinking out loud-what I pray for my children

As a mom it is only natural to think and pray for my children.  I have recently been thinking and pondering on all the areas of prayer that I would want my children to be shielded with everyday. The following are what I have come up so far and would love to hear from others who have reached down into their hearts for words of prayers that would send protection over our children.

That they will have the desire to receive the Lord and come to know the Him personally. -(John 1:12-13)

That they desire righteousness and shun evil. (Psalm 98:10 and Amos 5:15)

That they will humble themselves before the Lord.  (1 Peter 5:5-6)

That they will always be honest and seek after truth. (Proverbs 12:22)

That their hearts will be soft in order to hear and obey the Lord in all things. (1 Samuel  3:10)

That they will stand mind, body, and spirit spotless, pure, and blameless before the Lord.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

That the children who are not married yet that the Lord will prepare for them a godly spouse who will commit to a godly marriage for all eternity.  (2nd Corinthians 6:14-18)

That they will love to read the scriptures everyday, meditate and pray on them that they may find direction and guidance through them.  (Psalm 119)

That no matter what happens in life they will always be strong and that their faith will never fail them.  (Luke 22-32)

That they will watch and keep their hearts always from evil.  (John 17:15-16)

That they will love prayer and commit to daily prayer.  (Psalm 55:17)

That they will stand strong in the face of temptation  and no matter what, never compromise their faith.  (1 Peter 5:8-9)

That they will always let their light shine to influence those around them for good.  (Matthew 5:16)

That they will have complete discernment to always know good from evil in all circumstances in life.  (Isaiah 59:14-15)

That they will seed the Lord with all their hearts.  (Psalm 27:8)

That they will always attend church and worship with God's people.  (Hebrews 10:25)

That they will hate evil, never give in to the desires of the flesh, nor the pride that can it's way into our hearts.  (1 John 2:15-17)

That they will be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times.  (Acts 2:16-18)

That they will keep themselves pure and clean for their future spouse.  Mind, body, and soul.  (Romans 6:12-13)

That they will desire children and created a godly home for them.  (Psalm 127 and 128)

And especially.....

That they will love the Lord with their heart, soul, mind, and strength and serve Him always.  (Mark 12:30)

And that the Lord will watch over each of them and protect them from danger, sickness, harm, accident, and from all the attacks from the adversary physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  (Psalm 91)

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Basically for the entire month of November and most of December

In my life "these months"

I have been a normal busy mom of many.  As any mom is.  Basically, I am soaking in each and every minute I can with my kids.  We are spending an incredible amount of time reading together, and even singing together.  Who knew!  We have begun to "try" building a habit of singing hymns and worship songs each night before say our family prayers and it has proved to be quite wonderful.  The kids and parents both are loving it and the kids each enjoy choosing a song or two or three.  I am amazed to find the calming effect the singing has had on us all and how spirit filled our prayers are afterwards. Our first birthday in our series of birthdays between December and January is Mary and she is very much enjoying her ice cream on her birthday dinner out!  In the next 3 weeks we will celebrate Mary, Robyn, Aubryn, Heather, Emma, Kaydee, and Gemma. It's a wonderful life for sure. 

In our homeschool "these months"

Hours and hours of reading together and journaling in our learning notebooks.  Looking ahead already in January for when our new year begins.  Why? Because we will be jumping back into Sonlight and I have 6 very excited children.  We've done Sonlight in the past and enjoyed it! Not to mention how excited mom is to have her daily school schedule already planned out.  Our plan is to do 3 cores between 6 kids.  Condensed World History, World History Year One, and American History In Depth.  Mary keeps busy learning her math by using my favorite hands on math tools.  I've used these for teaching basic math skills for 11 years! She is working through Series one book two this year and nearly finished!  I love these little books for the younger kids and Mary is our 7th child to use them.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share

Well, I've been thinking about this one for a bit and all I can really say is enjoy your days with your children and have lots of cuddling and learning together.

I am inspired by

My two boys at home, Aaron and Gregg.  They are the best.  I won't go into detail as they are standing over me right now and this is all I have permission to say without embarrassing them!!!! ((smile)) Let me just say that Gregg literally carried a bottle of vitamin E in his pocket the whole time Mary's cut and scraped face was healing.  Every couple of hours he would call her to him so he could rub some on it to ensure she didn't scar. 

Places we are going and people we are seeing

Delivering Christmas goodies to friends and neighbors

My favorite thing "in these months"

Hearing about and seeing our happy daughters who just this year married their eternal and forever husbands.  I love hearing all about their lives as new wives.  They both are wonderful bread bakers and I hear their husbands are feeling much blessed by this!  The crafty creations are beautiful additions to their homes and I am having the most fun following their new duties.

  

What's working/not working for our family

According to my daughter, THIS hair style is not working.  She did it all by herself and was proud to tell us, "I found this hair do on Pinterest but I can't make it work!

Questions/thoughts I have

An odd thought, but fitting in my opinion....Can we as a society begin to put our focus on LESS gun control and MORE mental control?  

Things I'm working on

Decluttering and organizing every room in my home.  It's a job but a few minutes a day certainly pays off.

I'm reading

Or should I say we are reading The Von Trapp Family Singers, The Glorious Impossible, and anything Christmas we can get our hands on!  For schooling we are reading A Child's Geography of the World, Greek Myths for Children, and A Story of the World.  I personally am not really immersed into any particular book right now but most certainly loving the learning I am getting while reading to the kids.

I'm cooking/baking

It's Christmas, what NOT am I baking?

I'm grateful for

(okay I know it's shallow but on a cold winter night this warm milk spiced with pumpkin flavor and nutmeg is a winner.)

I'm praying for

Most deeply for the trials of our fellow human beings in Conn.

Photos to share

 I never tire of seeing my sleeping children huddled together

This child could spend all day having me read to her.  She definitely loves to learn and soaks in every word that comes out of her books.

What more can I say.  The watch though, I'm not even sure where that came from or who even owns it!

Our last warm day of November

THIS is what most of our days look like!

Somtimes........

Sometimes....

It's hard for me to sit down and enjoy the moments.

I'm reminded of how much I LOVE my 5 grandkids and their moms and pops when I run across a photo of them. Living in different states STINKS but fortunately, considering that we still get to see them quite often. But of course not often enough!

I feel self-conscience when I see a camera nearby and someone snapping photos!

I am mildly dishonest (to myself) when I indulge in something I shouldn't and think it's not going to affect me on the scale! Or when I sleep in longer than I should and shave an hour off when hubby asks what time I woke up! (okay, not quite a whole hour and only because he teases me constantly! I mean, not everyone can wake up a 4:20 a.m. like he does! But I'm working on it! Not the 4 o'clock thing but the mildly dishonest thing!)

I can't imagine a world without my family.

I'm surprised that I still long to have more babies added to my family! "Saying there are too many children in the world is like saying there are too many flowers." Yes, Mother Theresa, I wholeheartedly agree!

I get a little too easily wrapped up in exercising and long walks.

I indulge in guilty pleasures like organic white chocolate bars.

I wish all things in life were as beautiful as a breezy, cool, summer evening lying on a blanket outside.

A fun game I was invited to join (invitation open to all) from daughter-in-laws Heather's blog. You too should grab the list and fill out your own 'sometimes' thoughts!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

For the weeks of March 11-23rd 2012

In my life this week....I was able to take long walks because of the perfect weather. Everyday, and even in the evenings either daddy and I or the girls and I would walk, and walk, and walk! Long walks are so extremely refreshing and invigorating. I didn't have anywhere to go all week and stayed home and did nothing but be a mama! We were able to get ahead in our lessons and it looks really good that we will be able to have most everything finished up before our trip west next month. We enjoyed taking the girls rides around the yard on the motorcycles. The girls fairly beg their brothers all day long to stop what they're doing and give them rides. It's so cute to see the boys give in. Although, I can't imagine those boys have too hard a time quitting what they're doing to jump on those bikes!

In our homeschool this week....For the past couple of weeks we have gotten much done. Our studies are getting more and more enjoyable. We learned all about the Aurora Borealis, the causes of the lights and why they can be different colors. Our drawing for this week was of the Northern Lights but we continued with our picture study of Henri Matisse. We studied a bit about Indians and drew some totem poles and learned what they are all about. Our lessons were continued in Christian Studies where we talked of Cain, forgiveness and sin, and Jacob and Esau. Geography brings the study of physical geography as we continue with compass work, longitude and latitude, drawing maps, etc. Some of the girls thought it would be fun to write their names on our wall chalkboard using hieroglyphic and cuneiform forms of writing that they learned during their history this week in The Story of the World Ancient Times.

For nature study we are really enjoying our unit study by Amanda Bennett: Twisting Tornadoes. The girls show a lot of interest as we read about tornadoes and watch videos online. I thought right now would be the perfect time to do the unit since we live in an area where they occur.

A view of one of the girls' Classical Writing page and a few drawings from our picture study as we continue learning about Henri Matisse. These were drawn last week! The photo below right belongs to the artist!

My boys have finished their reading of the The Birkenhead Drill and The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea disasters. I don't post as much on my boys' work because they are mostly on auto pilot and I'm not involved as much with them on a daily basis other than to oversee their schedule's getting checked off!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice....Find the vision for your family. Where do you want to be in 10, 15, or 20 years? After you have set the standards for your vision set out each day to achieve it. Step by step, precept by precept! The most important thing is to never lose that vision. Keep it safe and tucked away in your heart and stay the course despite any obstacles you may encounter that may set you back. If you fall, stand up and finish what you started!

I am inspired by....Queen Esther. Is she amazing or is she amazing? I could read her story over and over again! There's just something about making tough choices when faced with the uncertainty she was faced with. But she held fast and pressed forward. Definitely something I could work on in my own life.

Places we're going and people we're seeing....We had a great time last Sunday having dinner at some friends' home we go to church with. Each month we try to either meet in our home or in theirs to enjoy some fellowship and fun!

My favorite thing this week was....The video at the end of this post. I absolutely loved every second of it. I hope you will too!

What's working/not working for us....My insatiable love to read to my kids is not working! Not working because I seem to think that each and every book I run across I should sit down and read to them! There is just so many books and so little time! So THAT is what's not working! I just need to patiently and consistently enjoy each page of one or two read alouds at a time before I pick up something new!

Questions/thoughts I have...."I slept in" Have you ever wondered about those 3 little words. Three words that in reality are not even a complete sentence! But yet we use them all the time! Which got me to thinking the other day. "I slept in" Slept in what? I slept in my pajamas! I slept in the tent! I slept in Paris! I slept in until noon! I'm just being silly here obviously! But it is food for thought when you really think about it! As an educator to my children for a long time I have been through many cycles of grammar over the years and according to what I've learned those 3 words should never fly! How about you? Any silly grammar thing going on in your life that you get away with?

Things I'm working on....Cleaning up and organizing my basement. It will be complete with only about 30 more minutes of work. I really don't know how on earth it even gets messy and unorganized. We don't use it except for storage but every 6 months or so it looks like a cyclone went through it!

I'm reading....Sitting at the Feet of the Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith. I have this on my ereader and I always forget about it until I happen to see the reader on my desk. It is taking me forever to read this book! But I am enjoying it very much. It brings so much insight into the life of our Savior.

I'm cooking....Swedish Rice Porridge - again! I think I have made it at least 5 times this month. Every one of my children ask for it on a regular basis.

I'm grateful for....My 5 younger girls who I can do things with. We do all kinds of things together. We read, school, exercise, take long walks, watch old movies, bake and cook in the kitchen, play games, shop, share our hopes and dreams, and so much more. They are turning into awesome young ladies and I love them so very much!

I'm praying for....Contentment in my own personal life.

A photo to share....My 2nd boy who barely joined our small towns volunteer fire/rescue team. I'm so proud of his desires to help those who will be in need of it. So much like his older brother who is a member of BORSTAR which is the Border Patrols Search, Trauma and Rescue Team. In this photo his is being called out to a small fire just a day after being called to assist at a motorcycle accident where the driver was air lifted to the hospital.

A Quote to share...."Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it unto tyranny." Thomas Jefferson

We didn't know that Mary had done this video until one of the older kids played it for us. It's amazing how even the littlest of kids can figure out the buttons on a computer. We seriously laughed until tears came. It was so funny and precious all at the same time! Enjoy!

A video to share....Mary's ponytail tutorial

The making of a 1950's housewife!!!!!!!!!!!

I found this list of 'rules' in an old magazine my sister gave me. Apparently they were written down in a high school home economics text book! It looked like an interesting thing to share so here it is! I've decided that since it was written during the 50's then none of it applies to me since I wasn't even alive at the time! It's a good thing these rules weren't made into laws because I'm quite certain I'd be given a life sentence in prison for breaking them! However, I can see where it wouldn't hurt me to learn a few of them and apply them in my life! I don't think I pull them all off, but a few of them I found interesting! Isn't it amazing how much things have changed in over 50 years?

1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you with be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little fun and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, ect. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
4. Prepare the children: Take a few minute to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
6. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.
7. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
8. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Perhaps his reason is something came up at work or on the way home.
9. Help make him comfortable. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
10. Speak in a low and soothing voice.
11. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity.
12. A good wife always knows her place.

I can happily report that after showing this to my husband he told me he is perfectly happy and contented with his wife. And that's what it's all about. Whatever floats your boat and keeps your marriage alive. It will be different for us all. Marriage isn't about a list of rules but about syncing ourselves with each other until eventually we become one!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Week of March 4 thru the 10th, 2012

In my life this week....I am loving the 'fake' spring weather we are having. It has been perfect for long walks with kids and hubby. I say fake because I really don't believe that it's here to stay! So very unusual.

In our homeschool this week....We just completed lesson one from A Child's Story of the World. Here are a couple of pages from the guide! We plan on staying in Ancient History at least until summer's end!

Our 'box' came from Rainbow Resources replacing some tired and worn out reading books!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice....Keep meals, especially dinners simple, yet nutritious so as to be able to spend more quality time with your children and husband. For instance, a meal of homemade bread, scrambled eggs, blueberries and oranges with a warm cup of hot cocoa can really fill you up. Eggs aren't just for breakfast anymore!

I am inspired by....My precious daughters reminding me of the importance of spending time together as we enjoy some quiet tea time while reading a fun story!

My favorite thing this week was....Seeing my daughter in the kitchen eating breakfast "appropriately" dressed while waiting for the boys to get the fire burning in the woodstove! (It might have been a little chili when they woke up!)

What's working/not working for us....I think I can speak for everyone when I say that high gas prices are not working for us. When you live 25 miles from the nearest anything it can make shopping, errands, etc. difficult. Grouping everything into a one day trip is extremely helpful.

Questions/thoughts I have....I've been thinking about how much I love being a wife and mother. The whole deal of family, children, husbands, and wives truly is a wonderful gift given us by God to bring untold happiness and everlasting blessings. And on the flip side, I am saddened by those who choose not to enter into the holy state of marriage but rather prefer to enter relationships not ordained by God from as long ago as The Garden of Eden. Oh, how much they miss.

Things I'm working on....Changing up my vigorous exercise workouts to the more gentler approach of yoga. However, I am still finding my muscles are just as sore everyday as they were when I was beating myself up with weights and cardio! But at least I will earn some flexibility, something I wasn't getting with strength/circuit training.

I'm reading....Still reading Grace for the Good Girl and books about yoga.

I'm cooking....Quiche Lorraine. The 'real' quiche lorraine doesn't have stir fried additions but I changed it up a bit.

I'm grateful for....A daughter who loves making homemade bread. One who sees that her last batch is gone and takes it upon herself to start another one. Which is about every other day! She even looks for reasons to make some simply because she loves doing it.

I'm praying for....Vision. Where there is no vision the people perish. I truly believe this is true. Both on a personal level and where our entire family is concerned!

A photo, link, or quote to share....

Photo - Juli and her little daughter flew from Texas to be here when our 12th baby was born. Sadly, I went way over my due date and she missed it by nearly a week. It would have been awesome having her here but it worked out that 4 months later at our son's wedding she got to meet and hold her newest baby sister. So very glad I had my camera in hand that day!

Quote - "So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish you tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles on sleeping men." Voltarine de Cleyre

Link - a very cute site where one can learn how to make skirts for girls

Resolved to workout

I love to workout. Always have! Ever since I was a young person moving my body has been a huge part of my life. While in school I was on the gymnastics team, a competitive ice skater, played softball every summer, and I could always be found jumping in on a game of volley ball, basketball, and even tackle football with my 5 siblings!

Suddenly, and before I knew it, REAL life hit at the age of 20. I got married and began my family. I was still in the military until shortly after my daughter was born and blessedly I was relieved of my 6 contract and was able to be honorably discharged so I could begin my life as a wife and mother. (I had an amazing CO who was a family man and was happy to relieve me of my duties after my first 3 years were fullfilled) That part of my life ended and another began! One that has been full of physical ups and downs for many years. I was born to be active and so I continued to do my best in between babies, nursing, homeschooling, and all that comes with having 12 kids. Fast forward to now and I have been consistently working out for a few years. No baby breaks for a time has meant I could stay on the ball for much longer than I had been able to do in the past And since it seems the babies are no longer being sent from the Lord he gave me a new baby: the ability to catch up where I left off. And I love it. It's not easy either this time around. I'm older, weigh more, still quite busy with homeschooling; but RESOLVED to stay in the game. Another reason it is harder is I am doing way harder workouts than I used to do. In the past I only knew cardio, (except while in the military) but now I do circuit training using a mixture of weights and cardio together to get a really good burn! I throw in yoga at least once a week, and love to take brisk walks whenever I can. For me, walking is the icing on the cake, even after a good workout! I love to walk!

But it's what motivates me to exercise is why I'm writing this post. (Obviously, my MAIN motivators are my awesome husband and children). In doing so, I hope I can motivate others to begin making needed changes in their own lives. It is a process, but one well worth the effort. The word I've chosen to push me is RESOLVE. We have many choices in life but there are some I don't give myself. One is where my working out is concerned. I don't give myself the choice. Each day when I wake up the question is not: "Do I feel like working out today? It is: Hmm, what am going to do for pain today?" Pain, that's what it is. A full hour of pain 6 days a week. (Five if I feel like being kind to myself!) The choice has been made. As long as I am in good health and feeling well, I WILL get my workout in!

I have found though that there are two things to be considered. They go hand in hand and compliment each other perfectly. Diet and exercise. I am NOT strong in the diet area. (Not diet as in diet for a week, but my lifelong diet) I eat really well. Whole foods and as close to completely natural as I can. But let's be honest, I do love my junk food! Within reason of course. One scoop on Breyer's vanilla ice cream? No thanks, how about 3 or 4 scoops!! That's my motto. And it's my motto that drives me to the pain I go through everyday! But I have to say that each day is getting easier and easier for me. As I'm working out I hear my mind saying, that slice of cheese cake was SO NOT WORTH IT! That candy bar, SO NOT WORTH IT! What I am finding - very, very slowly is that it isn't worth it. And because of my intense workouts I realize that it is easier to say NO than it is to bust it out in a workout.

My goal now, is to maintain weight and intensity of workouts as best I can. Both are going well. I am slowly finding the middle ground of moderation in both areas. I still have a l o n g way to go in my journey, but taking it one day at a time will s l o w l y get me there! My resolve is there: get that workout in everyday and give thanks to Heavenly Father for my new baby, and for the strenght, determination, and resolve to get er' done! Because if it weren't for Him, whom I give the glory to, I fear what my life would be like. Most likely, I would be spinning out of control and only facing a dream of feeling halfway healthy!

Disclaimer: LOL I have a really HARD time talking about myself in this way!!!!!! I only hope that by doing so I am being an inspiration to whoever may read this :)

Hope comes after opening Pandora's Box

"Hope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness, of captivity, would, without this comfort, be insupportable." ~Samuel Johnson

From the story: The Paradise of Children (a story that captivated my mind and set me to thinking on what hope truly is and how it blesses our lives)

The naughty little Pandora had opened the box. "Now if you wish to know what these ugly things might be, which had made their escape out of the box, I must tell you that they were the whole family of earthly Troubles. There were evil passions; there were a great many species of Cares; there were more than a hundred and fifty Sorrows; there were Diseases, in a vast number of miserable and painful shapes; there were more kinds of Naughtiness than it would be o any use to talk about."

Amazingly, Pandora had closed the lid so quickly that she had left one more 'person' in the box. Undecided as to whether or not to open it again after all her previous 'troubles' to let it out she was convinced to do so because of the sweetness of the voice she heard in the box.

"Pray, who are you, beautiful creature?" inquired Pandora. "I am to be called HOPE!" answered the sunshiny figure. "And because I am such a cheery little body, I was packed into the box, to make amends to the human race for that swarm of ugly Troubles, which was destined to be let loose among them. Never fear! We shall do pretty well in spite of them all."

HOPE!! One definition, and one that brings to mind the very essence of hope is....

Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a spiritual sense. 1828 Webster's Dictionary

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

The Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Finding words that "fit" the child

Describing our children in words can be at times a bit of a challenge. They all tend to 'wear' so many words on their sleeves at any given moment that it truly can take an entire dictionary to find the words to describe all that makes up their spirits. Here is a photo I grabbed of our Kenzie after reading a story. She chews on every word over and over in her mind from everything she hears or reads. Do you have a child like this?

My word I've chosen for her today and most days is 'contemplative' from the word 'contemplate'

To view or consider with continued attention; to study; to meditate on. This word expresses the attention o the mind but sometimes in connection with that of the eyes; as, to contemplate the heavens. More generally, the act of the mind only is intended; as, to contemplate the wonders of redemption; for example. 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

A quaint definition of what a home is

Pie filling + laundry = a mess!

When you live with children you find that almost anything is possible. But sometimes you do get surprises. Not often, but once in a while something happens that actually ISN'T the norm. Like taking out a load of clothes from the dryer only to find that at some point a jar of homemade cherry pie filling somehow found it's way amongst the clothes and went for an hour long ride inside the dryer. Thankfully, the jar didn't bust but what was left after the lid popped off wasn't a pretty sight. And silly me, I thought all that noise was just my dryer about to break down. I did look inside but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary going on so I thought I would just let it keep banging and knocking until the end of it's life came!! HOW DO THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN? I understand completely if you can't come up with an answer because we couldn't figure one out either!!!!

Who eats ice cream during exercise?

And amazingly, gets away with it!! The beauty of youth!!

Treasures of the Heart

I tiptoe past the bedrooms

And try to hold my breath

When suddenly a shadow

Scares me half to death

It's just a little angel

Appearing in the hall

So much for time alone, she's more

Important after all.

Sometimes I'm such a failure

As a mother and a wife

I often get impatient

And frustrated with my life

I don't live in a mansion

My clothes are not so fine

But I can live without them

As long as these are mine.

Little cherub kisses,

'Mommy, I love you!'

Snuggles in the morning

And look what I can do

May every precious moment

Forever leave its mark

I'll never take for granted

These treasures of my heart.~Linda Long

So some things ever touch your heart more than others? A story you hear, a poem you've read, a passing thought, a comment someone may make. For me, when I come across something that strikes me I like to write it down. And by doing so it oftimes becomes written on my heart popping into my mind at times when I need to remember it most. This is one of those 'things' that I was touched by.

Wonderful Wednesday~Thoughts of adventures

This beautiful piece of scenery is part of the Colorado landscape. Not far from where we were living before moving to our current state of residence.  Someday, soon, we hope to make Colorado our home again!  What makes this place so special to me?  On this day in the month of June several years ago we took our motorcycle up to this very spot.  It was our way of celebrating a blessing.  The knowledge that our 3rd child was on her way.  We have odd ways in which we celebrate events!!  Our goal was to take our motorcycle to the top of the mountain using the 4 wheel drive road that runs along the river.  However much to our disappointment we found that the most of the road was inaccessible because of heavy snow that had not yet melted.  To my great and fearful surprise my dear husband's determination was not deterred.  "We have a way to get all the way up, we'll just ride over the avalanche."  This avalanche had fallen at some point down the mountain and over the river leaving 'views' here and there of the gushing mountain river beneath us!!  Yes, I was on the thick snow that had settled itself over the top of the river.  Trembling in my boots and hanging madly onto the madman riding the two of us to the top of the mountain with only snow between us and water!  It was then that I knew my life with his man was always going to have an adventure thrown in here or there just to make life interesting.  This was only the beginning and I'm sure not nearly the end of the many wild and outrageous adventures we will share together.   He has a way of talking me into most anything and everything.  If you are new to my blog and haven't read about my biggest adventure with him yet then click HERE. to read about it.

photo courtesy

Is your cup running empty?

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction he addeth His mercy;

To multiply trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.! Annie Johnson Flint

Do you sometimes get weighed down with the many cares of the day? I know I do. Time keeps moving and children keep growing. I need to be at my best for my family and overwhelming myself with "things" takes from that and adds stress to my life. Stress gets in my way and then I'm not able to focus on the things that are most important. When those weighty moments come visiting I know for sure at least these two things are needful.

1. Obviously, I have bitten off more than I can chew and it is now time to cut back and simplify.

2. The most important, ponder and pray. Turn to the Lord and He will be my strength.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasures in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Praying for wisdom is a must....

at least for me anyway! "In Gibeon the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, "Ask what I shall give thee?" 1 Kings 3:5 "And now, oh Lord my God, thou hast made my servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." vs 7 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" vs 9 "And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing." vs 10

I can only speak for myself here. I too know not how to go out or come in. I too need to ask for the wisdom and the understanding that only God can give me. As I begin yet another new year in our homeschool I am again looking for the path the Lord would have each of my children take both in their curriculum and in their everyday lives. The many questions and concerns once again bring me to prayer. To ask the Lord what is that He would have my children learn and how He would have them learn it. Each of our children are different and that calls for a customized lifestyle of learning for each one. In our home we have children who have strengths in reading, but perhaps not in math. A strong skill in hands on activities but not in creative writing. And so on!! Each one of these children are arrows in the hands of our Father. It is our responsibility as 'children' and parents that we seek God through prayer and ask for His plan for our children in the coming new year. Only He knows them best, only He knows their path, and only He can direct them using us as His vehicle. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."~Proverbs 2:6 "Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Year end logistics, funnies, goals, & cautions!!

Things not to be repeated in 2011!

1. Making it all the way to church and getting seated before noticing my son had stapled the rip in his white church shirt instead of getting it sewn. And the rip was right up front near the collar for all to see!

2. Double check before leaving home that your young daughter has on her panties under her dress. Otherwise, when she decides to do some somersaulting while in public you will find she isn't completely modest.

3. When your son finds a rip in his dress pants, have him tell you so it can fixed. Otherwise he might just use duct tape to fix them and then wear them out in public at a formal event.

4. Don't let too many things get in the way of taking the time to inspect your children's dress before leaving for church. You may find you have a son who from the waist up looks very respectable, with his white shirt and tie, but below the waist is a black pair of baggy sweat pants and a pair of black, shiny dress shoes. (he thought they would work since they were black and he couldn't find his pants.) At least his shirt was tucked in.

5. At times we have 2 cars at church if someone has to stay later.  I will no longer assume a child will be coming in the 2nd car with daddy (even when I'm told they are) without first making sure.  Otherwise, it would be way too easy to leave one standing on the steps alone while I begin driving off without her!

Comments received this year worth sharing (and laughing over)

• "A woman asked me if I had ever heard of Family Planning." (planned parenthood I presume) My answer, "Oh certainly I've heard of it! We planned a family and now we're having it." (Is that being sassy?)
• "Is number 13 on the way yet?"
• "Are they all yours? Like one father, one mother kind of thing!" (seriously?)
• "You must homeschool." Why I ask, do you say that? "Because your son has a nice, short haircut and he is polite."
• Upon arriving at my husband's open house at work we were announced; "The Vance Smith family has arrived, hmm, aren't you missing a few people?" My son-in-law Kelly; eyeing our large group promptly answered, "Oh, you know you're right, where's the other 20?
• After visiting the doc for my boys' scouting physical I was told they were both fine and did I have any questions. Before I could speak, he said, "Oh wait, maybe I should be asking you the questions."
• "That's a lot of babies? Do your older ones have jobs to help? Does it get easier and easier to birth them the more you have?" (Of course it gets easier, I barely feel anything, the 'older' ones have the job of birthing the babies for me!)
• "I only have 2 kids and they drive me crazy." (Yeah, well, your kids would me crazy too!)
• "Mom, why do we always have to dress the same when we go out?" Two reasons... 1. So I don't lose you in the crowd, and 2. So I don't accidentally take home any kids that aren't mine!
• "Do you all eat at the same time, or do you eat in shifts?"

Logistics for the year, just for fun!

I think I heard the word mom about 10,000 times

I heard "I love you" almost as many times

Had over 100 dates with my husband

Had and or gave thousands of hugs

celebrated 20 birthdays

over 25 little handfuls of flower/weed bouquets

kissed over 100 boo boos-could be more! (let's not mention the number of band aids)

read aloud to my children over 300 hours

executed 100's of braids, pony tails, and up do's!

graded over hundred spelling/math tests between all the children

over 3000 miles of running was logged between daddy and the boys

mom logged over 300 hours of exercise

925 gallons milk-give or take

650 dozen eggs

1500 loads of laundry-give or take (probably take)

ran my dishwasher around 750 times

baked over 100 batches of bread

ground over 300 pounds wheat

popped over 300 large bowls of popcorn

served over 500 pounds of potatoes

consumed about 750 lbs of bananas. Banana smoothie addicts live at my house. Plus our family eats them all day long.

used about 750 rolls tissue paper, one roll a day per bathroom. (It's a girl thing)

at least 365 pounds of butter

peanut butter and jam:we won't even go there!

And the very best of the best New Year's goals...

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1 Peter: 1-2

IRR-Internal Road Rage

IRR, this is what happens to me when I approach one of those Round About deals in the road. I'm not sure why I can't wrap my brain around them.  There are a few things that tend to throw me off.  Like for some reason, I have it in my head that when I want to go down the road to the left of me I should turn left. Right?  No, I have to reroute my brain to the new idea that left means go right,  then straight, then right, all to just wanting to go left!!  How does anyone come up with an idea like this? I've decided that there are people out there with way too much time on their hands. Or, and this is much too painful to accept; that it's just me and my elevator doesn't go all the way up!  My husband says it's just me, but I refuse to accept that!  Where I come from, left is left, right is right, and straight is straight.  Maybe it's just a case of Dumb and Dumber!  Hmm, I wonder which one that makes me?

Flowers Under the Snow

I came across this today while I was reading and thought it was so nice I just had to share it.

~~~

Many of us find life hard and full of pain. The world uses us roughly. We suffer wrongs and injuries. Other people's clumsy feet tread upon our tender spirits. We cannot avoid these things, but we should not allow the harsh experiences to deaden our sensibilities, or make us stoical or sour. The true problem of living is to keep our hearts sweet and gentle in the hardest conditions and experiences. If you remove the snow from the hillside in the late winter, you will find sweet flowers growing there, beneath the cold drifts, unhurt by the storm and by the snowy blankets that have covered them. So should we keep our hearts tender and sensitive beneath life's fiercest winter blasts and through the longest years of suffering and even of injustice and wrong treatment. That is true, victorious living.

J.R.Miller