The boys and I are just starting 1 Samuel, and I am also re-reading A Heart Like His by Beth Moore as a refresher. I am using Streams in the Desert as a morning devotional, and reading Revelation again.
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Our Curriculum:
Horizons Math Grade 3,Sequential Spelling, Simply Grammar, Veritas Press Old Testament and Egypt, Apologia Astronomy
Feel free to ask questions, I don't have a ton of commentary tonight!
My first tip for kitchens is keep the clutter off the counters! I am obsessive about my counters. I dont keep appliances out (in fact I keep those to a minimum anyhow-they must all fit under my sink) and I dont let everyday stuff accumulate.
I run my dishwasher constantly it seems so I can keep on top of the dishes so my sink stays empty too. I hate a dirty sink! Plus I'd rather have a few nicer items and wash them often than have a BUNCH of stuff taking up room.
Keep only what you NEED, and try to purchase quality items. If it is pretty it doesn't look so messy when it is left out!
My silverware drawer and all my teas and accessories for guests:
My pots and pans, ALL my bake ware etc (there is one stock pot missing, it is in the fridge with my turkey stock I made yesterday). The top shelf is a dehydrator behind the bread basket in case you were wondering.
My dishes (some were in the dishwasher) just the basic set I got for my wedding 9 years ago!
This is actually an older picture the dessert glasses were actually given to a friend, and have been replaced with crystal dessert bowls that matched some of my other serving bowls (the middle shelf below) and get used a LOT more.
I'm missing a coffee cup and a few storage pieces in the picture, but the storage containers next right in the ones you see.
I'm embarrassed to say most of our drinking glasses were in the dishwasher! We also normally have a lot more Klean Kanteens on that middle shelf, but my husband took some with him and we used a couple out running errands today. Husband has replaced all his lids with stainless steel lids (they come with plastic lids but you can upgrade) and we haven't gotten around to getting rid of the original plastic lids yet, so that is why those are piled up in all my teacups!
Top shelf is my magic bullet blender (I love that thing) but I want to note that I got rid of almost all the accessories that came with it. Way to much clutter! I just have one big cup and one small one. The rest were donated and I've never needed them! My husband's waffle maker is tucked up there too. I HATE waffles! The dishes tucked in the back are my great grandmothers china. We use those to supplement our set when we have company.
Hope you enjoyed the tour of my kitchen. All I didn't show you in my lazy susan cabinet (because its hard to get into let alone photograph! It holds my mixing bowls, stainless steel strainer, apple master, vitamix and measuring cups. Also under my sink has a bread maker, juicer, commercial meat/bread slicer and crock pot.
1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. 6Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. 7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
I mean a REAL Christian? 2 John 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. Are you walking in His commandments on a daily basis? Do you know His Word well enough to know what His commandments are and how to live by them? Or are you using your own "moral compass" to decide you are a good enough person? James 1:9 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Just a quick thought for this morning as I get ready to take down all our fall decorations, and decorate for the CHRISTMAS season, a month spent celebrating the GIFT of our Savior, our example, our Lord.
Titus 2:4
Train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God
Mothers, I hope to inspire you to make every day special for your children. Just little gestures that make them see God's beauty in every day occurrences, that make them feel special and loved. It will change your mindset as well!
I let my children drink milk out of fancy tea cups sometimes. I serve meals and snacks occasionally just for them on my best china, the set my great grandmother gave me that were hers. Children are more careful than you'd think when they see that they are given the chance to use something special. And if they were to break I remember my children and the memories I am making with them than with "stuff of this world".
It doesn't even have to be anything extraordinary. Rainbow sprinkles on their pancakes, a heart made of chocolate chips on their oatmeal. Bread made in a shaped mold. These things make all the world to children and it is so fun to do these things for them and see their eyes light up!
One thing I need a reminder of sometimes is to let them help. Yes I could do it myself twice as fast and make 100 times less of a mess, but what memories would that be making? What skills would the children be learning? Is the beauty of the finished product more important that the confidence they have when they make something "themselves"? I learned today that my younger son is an expert potato peeler (which is great because I hate peeling), even though he peels the skins onto the floor. And my oldest is great at chopping potatoes to put in the pot! Abigail is great at banging measuring cups against her high chair, and that is her favorite place to be when I'm cooking because then she is high enough to see the counter tops and see what I am doing!
I love to search for books at our library to find new recipes and decorating ideas to please my children, husband and any guests who may come into our home. I find lots of fun stuff that way. Mothering and homemaking and being a wife are all processes that involve constant learning, and I aim to improve every day!
"Measured by the standards of men of their time, [the Pilgrims] were the humble of the earth. Measured by later accomplishments, they were the mighty. In appearance weak and persecuted they came -- rejected, despised -- an insignificant band; in reality strong and independent, a mighty host of whom the world was not worthy, destined to free mankind.
" - Calvin Coolidge
Cold and sick, fighting snow and sleet, a motley band of English men and women struggled through their first winter in the New World. Fewer than 50 of the 110 pilgrims and crew that had stepped off the Mayflower survived until spring. On their own, the Pilgrims would have likely all perished their first year on the coast of New England.
God had better plans for them.
In March of 1621, a loincloth-covered native stepped out of the woods and said, "Welcome" in clear English. Samoset, the chief of the Algonquins, had learned English from the fishing ships that occasionally put into the coast of Maine. A few days later he returned to the little Pilgrim village with another English speaking native named Tisquantum (aka "Squanto").
When the Pilgrims arrived in late 1620, they settled on cleared land that belonged to nobody. Squanto's entire tribe had been wiped out while he was in England after having been taken as a slave in 1605. After returning to his native homeland with Captain John Smith in 1614 , Squanto was again kidnapped and taken to Spain, where he was bought by local friars and introduced to Christianity. When he returned home, he found his tribe gone and the land that had belonged to them shunned by other tribes. He wandered until he found the Wampanoags who lived about 50 miles to the southwest.
And so, Squanto proved to be a literal God-send for the Pilgrims. He stayed with them and taught them how to stalk deer and catch eels and plant corn the Indian way. He showed them how to refine maple syrup and to discern which wild plants were edible and which were poisonous. He introduced them to trapping beavers, the pelts of which were in high demand in Europe. Without his help, few of the Pilgrims would have survived.
By the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims were well-prepared for the coming winter and extremely grateful to God, to the Wampanoags, and to Squanto. Governor Bradford declared a day of public thanksgiving to be held in October. They invited Massasoit, the Wapanoags' chief, to a feast to celebrate their bounty. The Wapanoags taught the Pilgrims the art of making popcorn and the Pilgrims introduced the Indians to fruit pies.
The Pilgrims had additional days of thanksgiving for God's provision during the next years of difficulty and hunger, but we remember these days of feasting and games and competitions in our Thanksgiving celebrations. God had shown He cared for this little band of persecuted Englishmen in search of religious and civil freedom.
There have been several days of thanksgiving since the time of the Pilgrims.
1777: Samuel Adams made a thanksgiving day proclamation that was adopted by all 13 states:
"It is therefore recommended... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn Thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor..."
October, 1789: President George Washington proclaimed Thursday the Twenty-sixth day of November to be a day of national thanksgiving to Almighty God.
October, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln announced that the last Thursday of November would be dedicated "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
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Finally, an act of Congress in 1941 dedicated the fourth Thursday of November for the purpose of thanking our Creator.
Even as our forefathers acknowledged the provision and goodness of God, let us also make this national holiday a very special time to thank Him for our own provision - our families, our sustenance and, above all, our redemption in His Son!
I have so much to be thankful for this year. We've been sick this week. I've had a cranky baby who doesn't feel well at all, and I've just been giving thanks through out. Not a day goes by that I do not thank God for this baby I prayed for, for all the ways He has grown me through the process. The process of asking for and waiting, learning contentment, the process of allowing Him to be my strength through fear. And this week I've been thanking Him for a reminder to take a few days and hold her and snuggle her and savor these days, because all too soon she'll too be grown.
I've never been a morning person, but lately I have been savoring being the first one up (well besides a sweet baby who is happiest first thing and content to play quietly for the hour before her brothers wake up). Seeing the frost on the grass, watching the sun rise in the quiet of the day. I am thankful to never take for granted the gift I have been given of staying home with my children. Of being the one who shapes their world view, of witnessing every moment of who they are becoming. Of being able to cover them in prayer through the day. I am thankful God chose this for my purpose, and that my husband agrees this is the most important place to be.
I believe heartily that everyday should be filled with Thanksgiving to God, but I am thankful for this special week every year, to remember His Providence and protection towards the pilgrims who wanted only to live the way He commands. Thankful for an excuse to make and savor traditions with my family.
I come across so many people who seem to be confused about the mission of Jesus Christ. I hear time and time again how he was a friend to sinners, and accepting of all, and this is used as a barb to goad Christians into feeling guilty for speaking truth and expressing their beliefs.
Well, I have news for you.
There is a major difference between having an Open Mind and having Open Arms.
When folks talk about being open minded, they generally mean that to be open minded you must accept all other viewpoints as potentially valid, that you must listen and consider all other viewpoints and give them a platform. That you must not speak against other viewpoints at risk of appearing close minded and hateful.
Jesus was anything but Open Minded. He challenged people everywhere he went. He angered people just about as often as he inspired them, and he did it on purpose, to set them straight and hopefully help them change their lives and find their way to Heaven. He didn't spend his time listening to all the other philosophies of his day and pondering them, because he knew the truth that he brought directly from God was the only truth. He learned as a child that there was no point in debating, it was a simple choice. He presented the truth, and those who heard him decided what to do with it.
No. Jesus did not have an Open Mind - he had Open Arms.
He welcomed anyone who would listen to hear him and follow him. To this day - the invitation remains open. Those who have made the decision to follow Jesus are charged with the responsibility of spreading the Open Arm policies of Jesus, and spreading his invitation to anyone they meet.
We are NOT called to have Open Minds, but Open Arms.
So, Christians, don't be fooled or coerced into believing that having an Open Mind is somehow Biblical or valuable. It is through our minds that the enemy can cause the most damage by confusing us and distorting what we know in our hearts to be true. No. Seal up your mind from the influences of the world and fill your mind with the things of God as we are instructed in Philipians 4:8 - whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Keep your Arms Open, always showing how God desires every single person to choose to love Him, that He doesn't want anyone to choose hell and gives us as many opportunities as possible to make that choice - as the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9 - He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
And to those who do not believe - don't make the mistake of expecting Christians to be Open Minded. We know what we know, and it is the truth. We don't fault anyone for not understanding, not accepting, not agreeing or not believing what we do. Our Arms are Open, to those who want to learn more, who want to have the peace that only God can give. To those who take the time to understand that to be a Christian is more than a lst of do's and don'ts, more than a list of what's good or bad.
Being a Christian is a process of growth and personal improvement that lasts a lifetime. It's the constant and daily decision to walk the narrow road and follow Jesus regardless the cost. If we don't encounter hardship and opposition, we aren't following Jesus closely enough. He told us to expect to be hated because of him. If we are too consumed with not offending anyone, we are in direct opposition to our calling.
Jesus is not our "Buddy Christ" and Michael Card said it so eloquently:
He will be the truth that will offend them one and all
A stone that makes men stumble
And a rock that makes them fall
Many will be broken so that He can make them whole
And many will be crushed and lose their own soul
Along the path of life there lies a stubborn Scandalon
I discovered this FREE Christmas unit study tonight (thanks MamaGeph!) http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/ChristmasLesson/
and while searching the site I realized that they had free samples of all their Time Travelers sets as well as completely free unit studies! http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/
so I saved those and came across a printable 3D Jamestown replica http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/promo/Jamestown-Replica.htm
This last link will make Little Peter's day! He is happy to spend all day, every day with a stack of card stock and scissors and tapes making 3D replicas if I'd let him. It drives me crazy, scraps of paper everywhere, but I do admit he does awesome work. He got a WWII book that was my great grandmas and has decided to build a model of every tank/plane/ship that is in it and has been diligently working on it for weeks now! He was so excited before that to find a 3D kit to make Noah's ark at the thrift store, and for the last year has been obsessed with origami! I cant wait to show him my find when he wakes up tomorrow!
THE LEGENDS OF THE 5 KERNELS
It was very cold for the Pilgrims that first winter. Food was in short supply. Some days, they had only five kernels of corn. When spring came, the Pilgrims planted the remaining corn. The sun and rain helped the seeds to grow and much food was harvested in the fall. Every Thanksgiving thereafter, the Pilgrims placed five kernels of corn beside each plate to remind them of their blessings:
The first kernel reminded them of the autumn beauty.
The second kernel reminded them of their love for each other.
The third kernel reminds of their family's love.
The fourth kernel reminded them of their friends ... especially their Indian brothers.
The fifth kernel reminded them of their freedom.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Nov. 20, 2008 - No such thing as unanswered prayer
God's timing is not ours to command. If we do not start the fire with the first strike of the match, we must try again. God does hear our prayer, but he may not answer it at the precise time we have appointed in our own minds. Instead He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, though not necessarily when and wear we might expect. Therefore, we have a need for perseverance and steadfast determination in our prayer life.
In the old days of flint and steel and brimstone matches, people had to strike the match again and again, perhaps a dozen times, before they could get a spark to light their fire, and they were very thankful when they succeeded. Should we not exercise the same kind of perseverance and hope regarding heavenly things? When it comes to faith we have more certainty than we could ever have with flint and steel as we have God's promises as our foundation.
May we therefore never despair. God's time for mercy will come. Ask in faith without wavering, but never cease to petition the King simply because He has delayed His reply. Strike the match again, being sure to have your tinder ready.
CH Spurgeon
Readers, I ask you to join with me in prayer for my husband. For his safety this deployment and more importantly for His salvation. The Lord has put person after person in his life through this command, I believe to prepare his heart. I pray that he will come to know the Lord, and accept salvation in Christ. Thank you!
The key to unlocking a heart of gratitude and overcoming bitterness, ugliness, disrespect and violence is a strong sense of dependence on God, the Creator, Sustainer,Provider and Hope-Giver...Remembering our dependence on His past mercies kindles gratitude.Pondering the promises of tomorrow's mercies kindles faith. Gratitude is past-oriented dependence, faith is future-oriented dependence. Both are humble, self-forgetting, God exalting.
O that we may guard our hearts from the arrogance that unleashes a thousand evils in the world! Humble gratitude for all God has done for us in the past, and promises to do for us in the future-this is the key.
And we also do this Advent study every evening after dinner. I did it with my 5 year old last year, but I learned a lot (and so did Tiff who was 16!) and it came with coloring pages my 18 month old also enjoyed. :
This year we are also reading:Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide
It's really good so far. It has a lot of prophesy and it great about making the waiting for the Messiah (in old testament times and now) come to life (there are also 2 other books in this series) I had put off reading it but I am TRULY impressed with this book.
UPDATE we are FINALLY buying a copy this year, after it being out of print for the last 3 years!
Last year I also did a lot of reading about traditions and holidays in an attempt to make our Holidays Christ centered. Unfortunately I dont remember it all, but here are some I do remember
Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Psalm 148:7-8
We celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend, so I am already in full Christmas season mode! My first box of Christmas cards arrived today, I am quite pleased with how they turned out! I need 2 more boxes, but wanted to make sure they came out well before buying the whole lot of them.
The boys and I have had fun making virtual snowflakes at Make-a-Snowflake this week.
and please please please check out THIS website! I found it last month and it is AWESOME! ADVENT CONSPIRACY
I also wanted to point out I made a new category on the right hand bar called HOLIDAYS, so I am trying to go back through previous years and move old blogs over instead of reposting all the same great stuff!
Have fun getting ready to celebrate JESUS!!!
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength
Job 37:6
I have been informed I have been lacking in updates! Sorry! She'll be 8 months old already in just a couple days!
Abigail started crawling at the end of 6 months, now she is a speedy little girl! She's pulling up and standing now, which means she has her first bruises as well! She got 2 teeth when she hit 7 months, they came in exactly 1 week apart. She says mama, dada, night night and dog-dog. She said kitty just once this weekend when she saw a cat for the first time! But it was never repeated again. She is much more "talkative" than the boys ever were! I'm currently uploading a video of her crawling on YouTube so that should be up in a few minutes.
Some autumn Abigail pictures for you:
Today has been windy, with rain pouring down all day, but it has been amazing. Watching the rain stream down the windows and being thankful I have a cozy warm house to be in with hot tea to sip. Seeing the beautiful leaves sprinkled all over the yard,blowing with the wind... God is so good.
The boys and I decided to try out a fun craft, and I think it was a success! We made one HUGE snowflake, and plan on making some smaller ones to keep it company to hang in December. You can find instructions here:
1“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43
God is in control of EVERYTHING, and He has a plan!
1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish—vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;
33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Peter bought me a new Ipod for Christmas (he'll be deployed which is why it is so early)
and I spent last night searching for my absolute favorite photos to put on it, and now it holds all the ones that make me smile!
So I wanted to share some of my oldest baby with you!
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. ... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,
16Repent therefore! 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Ladies, as you know Christmas is just around the corner, and I want to share with you again something near and dear to my heart. Christmas cards!
I hope that you will thoughtfully and prayerfully consider sending out cards this year. I feel it is part of my homemaking duties to keep upcorrespondence with friends and family, and this is a perfect time to make sure everyone we know gets something special in their mailboxes that is not a bill or advertisement.
I start early filling out each card. I try to write a little something personal in each one, but more importantly EVERY person who receives a card from us also receives prayer. As I make out the card, I pray for the family it is addressed to. I start early in November and take a few each night to make sure I do not feel rushed.
Also when we receive Christmas cards we set them on the kitchen table and after dinner we pray for whoever the cards are from before we put them on display. So most families get prayed for at least twice (once when we send them a card, once when we receive one from them!)
And on a side note, if you'd like a fancy card personalized with pictures let me know! I will sell the digital file for you to print as you wish, or I will print them for you at my lab. Here are some of ours from years past:
3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
2'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
3and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.
4'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven."
~Matt. 7:21
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15
This election is proving all the more that we ARE living in the last days. Are you ready for the Lord to come back?
Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Believing there is a God is not enough. There are so many "Christians" in this world who do not live for Christ! I truly believe they will NOT get to heaven. This grieves the heart of God
Revelation3:5 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
"It is a universal rule that the more excited or naughty the children are, the more quiet and clear the mother should be. A mother who realizes this for the first time, and works with herself until she is free from all excited and strained resistance, discovers that it is through her care for her children that she herself has learned how to live. Blessed are the children who have such a mother, and blessed is the mother of those children!...All vehemence is weak; quiet, clear decision is strong; and the child not only feels the strength of the quiet, decisive action, but he feels the help from his mother's quiet atmosphere which comes with it.
--Annie Payson Call
I do so agree that a mother's attitude and manner make the biggest difference on children. If only I could let go of my stress and uptightness my children would be so much calmer...This is my goal this week. To be simply quieter and more even mannered. Care to join me?
We didn't get our annual road trip vacation this year, so we substituted a trip to Seattle! I've never been a fan of big cities, but Seattle is actually beautiful in Autumn, and the weather was amazing for us!
First we headed to the Ballard Locks. It was a gorgeous site and we learned a lot!
Then we headed to Pike's Place. Again, it was so disappointing. I just dont see the fun in fighting huge crowds. Maybe I'm spoiled by the amazing SMALL farms here in my own town! We originally were going to do the underground tour of Seattle (Originally Seattle was built below sea level, but when it was destroyed in a fire they built the new town on top of the old ones, but there are still buildings underground) but once we got there we found out it was not a family friendly trip, so we did the DUCK tour instead! We had done the Seal Tour in San Diego when we lived there and had a lot of fun and learned a lot too! The boys even got to drive the boat this time!
Abigail just enjoyed a ride with NO carseat!
We ended our day at the airport, dropping Grandma off after a month long visit! I'll post some more pictures in a separate post!
This chapter really spoke to me today on somany levels!
The Great Apostasy
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Just watching election coverages shows this to be true!
3 forbidding to marry,and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
This is something I really needed to hear. In an effort to feed my family healthy and preserve their health, I have become a bit of a food snob, and the Spirirt has really been checking me aboutthis lately! I want to point you to an awesome blog I read on it also:
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
I am thankful to never take for granted the gift I have been given of staying home with my children. Of being the one who shapes their world view, of witnessing every moment of who they are becoming. Of being able to cover them in prayer through the day. I am thankful God chose this for my purpose, and that my husband agrees this is the most important place to be. 
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