Well, our morning started out somewhat normally (normal for this week at least).  See, the boys and I are doing a “service project” this week and next by DEEP cleaning and DEEP organizing our church’s older building, which includes the fellowship hall, kitchen, 5 classrooms, 2 bathrooms, and several closets.  It is SUCH a joy to be able to do this because God laid it on our hearts to do so quite a while ago.  After we got the official okay, we were off and running!  As usual, we spent the morning scrubbing, vacuuming, hauling, trashing, storing, and organizing. 

Here’s where the unusual starts!  For a treat, I thought the boys and I would enjoy lunch from Sonic and then some playtime at a neat park in town.  So, off we went.  All was yummy and fun, as you’d expect.  Our youngest was getting sleepy, so I thought that he’d fall asleep if I held him while swinging.  And, he did… so the older boys played on happily.  My sleeping boy stirred once and fussed, but since he’s getting canine teeth, I didn’t think much about it.  I just cuddled him close (chest to chest), and he fell back to sleep.  However, when he stirred the second time… I fully understood that his fussing had NOTHING TO DO WITH TEETH.  He was MOTION SICK!!!!!!!  Sonic is NOT so fun the SECOND time around!  He and I were covered in BARF!  After getting everyone loaded up, and borrowing my oldest son’s shirt for the drive home, our youngest napped happily for another hour in the van under our carport while I sat in vomit soaked jeans and under things… but at least my shirt smelled like a sweaty pubescent boy!!! 

After his napping, we got cleaned up, and I started fixing supper when my sister called.  My sis is about 6 years older than me (she’s 45 almost 46).  At 37, she had her first grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with Epilepsy.  Now, due to numbness and a tremor in her right hand, she has endured many tests over the past few weeks only to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  She has been through it and isn’t done yet!  Plus, she is the minister of adult education at their large church, her daughter is graduating from high school in May, her son from college, and her son is getting married November 2010.  Of course, prayers for my sister are appreciated, as she most certainly needs every one she can get with all that’s on her plate!

So, keep in mind that NO day is EVER normal or usual because… in an instant… everything can change.

We've recently had the blessing of getting to know a wonderful, homeschool family.  In learning more about them, we were somewhat surprised to find out that the father had written a book.  Then, once we took the time to actually read the book, my husband and I were completely blown away (in a good way) by its Godly wisdom and complete biblical truth!!!

If you, or anyone you know, have EVER had struggles in your life or marriage (which is everyone, huh?), this book is an invaluable tool!!!!  The chapters are short and easy to read.  DH is reading it to me a chapter a night :) Yes, I am literate, but I enjoy him reading outloud and he indulges me with that. :)

Oh, the book is "Meaningless Words and Broken Covenants" by Tim Coody (yep, pronounced like the coodie bug).  I cannot express what a powerful truth God expresses through Tim's (with some help from his dear wife, Laura) book.  It is available on Amazon and other sites too... just Google it.

Again, you'll be blessed by, changed, and grown in Him through reading it.

:)Michelle

I receive a couple of e-devotionals every morning.  Sometimes God speaks loudly through them... and He did today!  I thought that this short devotion from Crosswalk.com might be an encouragement to some of you as well.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

The Contact Lens and the Ant 
Mary Southerland Today's Truth 
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

Friend To Friend 
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the enormous granite cliff when she stopped for a well-deserved breather. Standing on a narrow ledge, she measured how far she had come and reveled in the excitement of her first rock climb.  As she rested there, the safety rope suddenly snapped against her eye, knocking out her contact lens. "Great!" she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow the contact lens had landed on the ledge, but it simply was not there.  As panic began to set in, Brenda immediately prayed for peace and help in finding her contact lens. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her climb.

When she got to the top, a friend closely examined Brenda's eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Brenda was now calm because she had reached the top, but was also sad because she could not clearly see the beauty of the mountain range around her. A bible verse suddenly popped into her mind, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."  Brenda smiled as she thought, "Lord, You can see all of these mountains. You know every stone and leaf and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me find it." 

Later, when Brenda and her group of friends had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff, they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"  Well, that would be startling enough, but do you know why the climber happened to see the lens?  He had noticed an ant that was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying the contact lens.

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy, but if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

Just this week, I have repeatedly asked God why I have to carry one of the current burdens in my life. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely nothing good in it and the weight of that burden seems to get heavier with each passing day. Then yesterday, I received an email from a friend who thought I might need to hear this story of the ant and the contact lens. God has such a great sense of humor, doesn't He?  I got the message and am now praying, "Lord, if you want me to carry this load, I will."

I may never understand the purpose of this particular burden but remember ... human understanding is not necessary for spiritual obedience. That's where faith comes in.

Are you carrying a burden that seems to grow heavier with each step you take?  Does the load you carry seem pointless and hard to understand?  Trust God.  He will supply all the strength and power you need for every burden that comes your way.

Let's Pray 
Father, please forgive me when I complain about the burdens and problems that come my way.  I want to face each one with joy and peace.  Give me the faith to trust You and to daily surrender to Your plan - even when I don't understand it.  Help me to stand firm when I want to give up and remind me that You are working all things together in my life for my good and Your glory.  Today, I choose faith over fear.  I choose Jesus.

In Jesus' name, 
Amen.

The sounds of home school fill our home this morning to overflowing.  The piano notes clinking tentatively as a new piece is learned… the clattering of Lego buildings forming as a potential architect creates his latest cubic wonder… the banging of a rattle on the piano bench as the youngest keeps the beat for big brother… and… lastly, the quiet, subconscious humming along of yet another brother while he completes handwriting… all these sounds amuse and bless my soul on this unusually crisp, cool summer morning on the first day of September in East Texas. 

May the sounds in your home bring a smile to you today, as well!

JMichelle

In preparing for the new school year, I've come across some great links.  So, I thought I'd share.

For pre-school activities:  

FileFolderFun.com    

Christianpreschoolprintables.com    

ABC Lap-N-Note at Homeschoolshare.com

http://www.coloring.ws/       

http://www.childrens-church-ministry.com/index.html      

http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/ 

Other helpful misc. science, math, weather, and more links:     http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/        

http://www.tlsbooks.com/     

http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weather-ed/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/weather-classroom/        

http://www.math-drills.com/decimal.shtml

And of course:  http://donnayoung.org/index.htm

I used some of these for organization, some for supplemental, and some just for fun.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

You’ve heard of free-range chickens and other poultry?  Well, we now are the proud parents of a free-range baby boy.  You may ask, “What is a free-range baby?”  Well, the answer is much simpler than you might imagine.  Simply put, a free-range baby is one that becomes mobile.

Our youngest son has discovered the joy of motion.  Yes, it’s true that crawling is lots of fun.  However, baby walkers with wheels are a true joy to curious almost 9 month olds. 

Now, that we have taken the leap of equipping our youngest with wheels, he is quite a determine mischief-maker.  He currently enjoys opening doors, drawers, and dismantling carefully organized shelves.  We anticipate that soon he will revel at pulling neatly folded laundry and sending it crashing to the floor and delight at stalking and de-furring our tabby cat.  FYI: from past experience with our other 3 sons... de-furring occurs when a baby grabs a handful or handfuls of fur and does not let go, thus causing the feline victim to flee furiously with such force therefore dislodging the tuft in question.

So, during this moment of reflection, we are reevaluating our recent purchase of the “walker” a.k.a. the vehicle of mass destruction.

Blessings,

With Spring in the air, our boys have been a bit distracted lately.  Some would say, "Well, that's just boys!"  However, since we have 4 of them, that trite saying will just NOT do.  So, for a while now, our boys have been doing some physical work every day.  My dear husband lays out an outdoor job (or part of a job) for them to complete every day.  As the Mom, I have the option of using the job as a re-focusing tool when necessary... meaning that if schooling is just not happening, then they use their morning for outdoor work and afternoons for schooling.  As a book my DH has been reading says, men (young and old) were "created for work". 

On a different note... has anyone else besides me ever had the burning desire to write a book?  I have always known or felt that I would some day write something for someone... really... something more in the format of a book or curricula, but something!  For years, I have prayed about this longing and that God would reveal what He would want me to write.  Now, I don't know if this will be His answer or not, but I have been asked to help write workbooks to go along with a very popular early reading program.  They are currently checking into the legal aspects of the endeavor.  So, this could lead to something or nothing, but it is quite exciting.  IF this project does NOT work out, I have also had another option graciously God-whispered to me.  I (and our whole family) continue to pray about all of this, but we are encouraged that these possibilities may be answers to many fervent prayers.

Now, back to the duties of the day.

Blessings to you!

:)Michelle

Indeed, my steroid use is merely a survival tool until I can have shoulder surgery in both shoulders to repair torn rotator cuffs.  Why would a 39 year old have torn rotator cuffs you ask???  Well, evidently I have faulty genetics which affect my ability to produce collagen… collagen is evidently very important to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and overall joint health.  My grandmother had similar joint issues… I suppose I share her genetic deficiencies.  Anyway, my diagnosis is calcific tendonitis and tendonosis with bursitis, significant calcification due to osteoarthritis in my joints, and tears in my supraspinatus tendons and likely tears in the other rotator muscles as well.  YIPPEE!!!  With a 6 month old… not to mention a 4, 9, 11, and 40 year old, having my arms strapped down to my side for 3 to 6 months is just NOT an option.  So, I asked my orthopedic surgeon to treat me like a professional football player who has to play in the Super Bowl every day for the next 3 to 5 years!!!  He was, indeed, mildly amused, but still insists that surgery is inevitable.  However, with the comment that steroid injections were “not his treatment of choice and only temporary”, he shot me up!!! 

FYI:  I have not started growing hair in unusual places and my voice has NOT deepened, but my shoulders are already feeling MUCH better after just one day.  I LOVE steroids!!!!!  The pain had gotten so severe that I could not sleep (even if our infant son did) due to the pain, I was not pain-free in a chair, I was not pain-free in the air, I was not pain-free on the stairs, I was not pain-free any where.  You get the idea… it was bad!!! 

So, now I’m feeling MUCH better, am rather giddy (can you tell?), and should only continue to feel less pain… oh… for about the next year hopefully.  This is my brain; this is my brain on STEROIDS!!!!  Any questions?

Blessings,

Well, it is amazing how it seems you only BLINK and it's already a new year!!!

We have had good, but busy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's vacations.  There was travel, family, food, illness, games, fun, more travel, more family, more fun, more games, and not enough nearly enough sleep during the past month.  Now, we are getting ready to settle back into schedules, routines, and normalcy.  We are all ready for life to get back to normal.  Holidays are always fun, but our family tends to be home-bodies and enjoy the peace and quite of our familiar ruts.

Our boys are growing like... yep... weeds.  Avery has grown dramatically over the holidays, finally bi-passing my height (and he is SO proud).  Joshua and Jacob are also growing steadily, but not any "super spurts" lately.  Caleb, at his 4 month check-up, was in the 25% for his weight and in the 98% for height... tall and thin like his daddy.  I won't go into details on how Bobby and I have or have not grown due to the holiday treats and sweets, but we HAVE resolved to exercise more in the new year. :)

So, now, it is time for preparing lesson plans, catching up on filing/paperwork, and ironing... ah, normalcy!!!

I pray you and yours are happy, healthy, and blessed!

:)Michelle

Here is an article I wrote some time back.  I ran across it recently, and felt led to share it with y'all.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

A Garden Full of Friends

Like-minded gal pals are especially important for those of us who are called to the sometimes very isolated career of home education.  Oh, how I love my dear Titus girlfriends!  For years, I struggled to surround myself with sincere Titus women.  I longed for and prayed diligently for the companionship of like-minded gals seeking God while honoring their husbands and cherishing their children.  I yearned to sharpen steel with women after God’s own heart. 

All too often, women get caught up in unhealthy friendships where complaining, negativity, and whining are the primary purpose… instead of being only momentary lapses of God-focus.  All too often, these misguided relationships breed bitterness, discontentment, and despair with in our marriages and motherhood. 

The following insight comes from Renee, a homeschool mom, from Lubbock.  What an honoring way to view life’s friendships! 

Friends are like flowers… some are annuals, some are perennials, and some are wildflowers.

Those that are annuals… just like the name implies, are only good for one season.  We all have encountered friends like this.  They are in our lives for a short time, but while they were there, they brought a source of joy and beauty. 

Those that are perennials… again just like the name suggests, come back year after year and have a good root system.  These are the friends that you can depend on being there.  Though they may only bloom one season, they are always there...growing. 

Those that are wildflowers… just as the name hints, are wild and you don't know where they came from.  They may be native to the area, but nonetheless, you don't know exactly how they got there.  These friends are wonderful surprises...they just pop up!  They may look like a weed to begin with, but grow into something beautiful.  The best thing about them is they continue to spread, making more beautiful flowers to enjoy. 

Like every garden, weeds are bound to pop up.  But as my father-in-law once told me even a flower can be a weed when it grows where it is not wanted.  Even though the flower may be beautiful, it is still a weed.  In order to grow an abundant garden, you must get rid of the weeds.

Where is the wisdom in all of this?  As I look into my past and the friends I have made and lost, I can pick out those who fall into each category.  We have to be willing to let our flowers grow or go.  Sometimes friendships turn out to be weeds, but we do not need to get our feelings hurt or be bitter. We have to realize that they are beautiful, but maybe they just weren't meant to grow in our garden. 

I absolutely adore this analogy!!!  I adore it because it makes perfect sense when I think of all the “flowers” that have budded, wilted, or grown throughout my life.  I adore it because it removes the soap opera, junior high, cat-fight, juvenile drama by still honoring each woman as a loved child of God (in spite of whatever may have transpired within the relationships).

For years, I struggled with feeling guilty about spending an occasional night out or for an inadvertently lengthy counseling session via telephone with my Titus friends.  I love my husband and children more dearly than I ever thought possible to love any human beings, and, therefore, continued to grapple that maybe I was neglecting them by spending any moment away from them.  However, I was recently blessed with an epiphany!

Several scriptures, Holy Spirit whispers, and God-guidance given through God-loving preachers, teachers, and friends perfectly came together at one incredible, freeing moment.  Even bible women needed their God-given girlfriends around them.  Ruth, Naomi, Mary, Martha, Mary, Elizabeth… the list goes on… these women needed their God-given Titus friends (and yes, relatives can be friends, too).  We all need cherished friends who can completely understand us without our ever having to speak out loud a single solitary word. 

I am so amazingly blessed to have several Titus friends who mentor me, ground me, refocus me, encourage me, scold me, laugh at me, laugh with me, comfort me, pray with me, and pray for me… just to mention a few of the numerous ways they point me back to God on a regular basis. 

***WARNING:  If your friends are not pointing you back to God… RUN AWAY FROM THEM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this need for girly buddies in any way imply that husbands are inadequate to meet the needs of wives?  Concluding from scripture, I do not believe so.  God graciously provides us with dear “flowers” to make our lives more beautiful as we grow along side each other toward His plan and for His glory. 

A couple of additional warnings… know that complete transparency is vital with any friendship outside a marriage.  In these friendships, there are NO secrets kept… not wives from husbands or husbands from wives.  Also, be extremely cautious… Satan can quickly and effortlessly gain a sinful foothold in male-female relationships outside the marriage relationship.  Finally, be certain that a friendship does not cause any of us to covertly avoid growth issues in our Christian walks, our marriages, or our motherhood.

So, are your friends annuals, perennials, wildflowers, or weeds?  Perhaps God is prompting you to seek new Titus “flowers” OR to simply cultivate the healthy “gardens” already growing within your life.

Thank you all for excusing my absence over the past couple of months as we have been trying to get into a new routine.  With starting our school year, adding some pre-schooling, and satisfying the needs of an infant, we have been and still are VERY busy.  However, everything is going much more smoothly for the most part.  After some normal struggles surrounding childbirth, our home is just about back to a new "normal".  Most nights are filled with sleep, most mornings are filled with happy boys, and most days are filled with a pleasant routine.  We are truly amazed by so many incredible blessings... faith in our loving Lord, a wonderful marriage, beautiful & bright boys, dear family & friends, scenic surroundings... I could go on for quite a while.  All in all, God is so very good!!!

I pray you all are enjoying a super school year and a fantastic fall!

Blessings,

:)Michelle

As we are finishing up a HUGE list of summer projects, I am so grateful.  Grateful for my dear husband, the patience of our boys, the help of family, the energy to accomplish tasks, the willpower to persevere, and the sanity to survive it all... just to name a few of the many things I'm thanking God for repeatedly.

Yes, we are still waiting for our 4th son to arrive.  He, too, has been very patient as his mommy has done some MAJOR nesting... including waxing floors last night at 11 p.m.!  Oh, but they do look pretty.  Now, as the project list is almost complete, I feel sure that He will allow him to come very soon.  It's funny how that always seems to happen... the "list" gets accomplished, then labor starts, but I know it's all in His timing.

So, for now, I'll just say, "We'll keep you posted on boy #4!"

Blessings,

:)Michelle

I LOVE summer!!!  Not because of the heat, not because of the humidity, not because of the relaxed schedule, and not even because of the weightlessness provided to a huge pregnant body in a cool swimming pool.  No, I love summer because of having my dear husband home full-time!!! 

For those who did not know... my husband is a former research scientist/analytical chemist who (in 2000) changed careers in view of a calling to teach in public schools.  Since that time, he has taught high school math and/or science and thoroughly enjoys it. 

With my husband home, our household feels complete.  We function so much more smoothly and peacefully.  I have great difficulty understanding how some wives feel "out of sorts" when their husbands are home for merely a week of vacation time.  Our family would find it such a joy to be blessed enough to have him home 24/7, however, God has not yet provided that privilege. 

So far this summer, we are enjoying spending time as a family accomplishing all those things that must be done before our new baby boy arrives sometime within the next month and a half or so.

I pray that your family is enjoying summer as much as mine.

Blessings,

:)Michelle