Well, last time I posted I was counting down to Thanksgiving Break and now we're on Christmas Break! School is going pretty well. Zarek has finished his Life Management and Psychology classes with FLVS and needs to take his semester exam for Spanish II with them this coming week before he's officially done for the semester.
Alexis is moving right along, although she didn't finish World Geography, which is supposed to be a semester course, but is turning out to be more than that. She's almost done with Pre-Algebra and will be starting Algebra.
Caitlyn and Brett are coming along in math and Language. We're studying the Middle Ages, right now learning about the Crusades. I think we're all in need of a break though and I hope we enjoy our few weeks off.
My kids and Alexis' boyfriend Josh in front of our tree.
Here's a picture of Alexis and Josh in front of his tree.
Zarek, Alexis and Josh doing some volunteer work, putting together food boxes.
And the children have helped out by ringing the bell for the Salvation Army as well as putting together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Now we are enjoying shopping and wrapping gifts and thinking of what to make for Christmas eve and Christmas dinner. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.
Well, it's been awhile, hasn't it? What a weird, six-plus months since Charming lost his job. I had hoped it wouldn't be a journey this long, you know?
OF COURSE, God has provided, as He always does. As He has promised. As His character dictates. We still have food and lights and heat. And even internet. But I am looking forward to the time our bills are paid on time, and we have a plan "in place" to get out of debt, which is our "heart's desire."
The Lord has taken us many places in this journey. At first, it was a little scary. Breaking the habits of a lifetime of sloppy spending took a little time, but we have accomplished it. Every dollar is weighed. Sometimes we even have a "pros and cons" list to decide where it will be best used. Fast food is not just an easy answer to a busy afternoon. We may have leftovers from a meal, but they never get so old that they are thrown away. It's a Good Thing.
In five months, Charming had only two interviews. In the past two weeks, he has had three. There will be an end to this, Sometime. Nobody stays unemployed forever, after all.
Very lately, I've been a tad discouraged. Maybe weary is a better word. I seem to be in a "holding pattern" where I'm just surviving. At times in this journey, I've discovered jewels in God's word. I've felt that the Lord had something for me to learn, and, by golly, I was learning! But sometimes He leads us to a desert place. Not exactly a Dark Night of the Soul or anything (at least this time!) but someplace Dry. Windy. Lookin' like it will go on Forever.
Yesterday I had the thought, "just what is God doing?" And the answer immediately came to me: He is doing His best for me.
His Best. That is what He always does. In every situation, for every person. That is His only way--He doesn't have a good, better, best plan. Only the Best plan, always. And doesn't that make sense? Why would the Creator of the universe waste time with anything other than Best? Didn't He plan the earth and the heavens? They are perfect in their design for us. We're the ones who introduced sin into the equation.
You know how the pastor will say "God is good!" and we respond "all the time!" Do we believe it?
When Forget-me-not had had her driver's license only a few months, she took four of her friends to the mall to get t-shirts for a school event. She rear-ended a car in front of her which had braked suddenly. I picked up all of the kids, and took them home one-by-one. I told the first and second parents I spoke to the same thing: God was good; there was no one hurt. After that, the Lord gently rebuked me. He said, "I would be "good" if all of the children had died."
Wow.
How many people have you known that have gone through a crisis and said this: "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but I wouldn't trade what the Lord has taught me through it for a million dollars." I'll bet you've said that, as well. That is because He is giving you His best plan, always.
God gave His best when He gave us His Son. The magnitude of the sacrifice in Jesus coming to earth as a human, then giving up His life so that we could be reconciled to God, when we messed up the thing to begin with? Unbelievable. Unspeakable.
So as this Christmas approaches, that's what I'm thinking about.
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
More abusive teachers are in the news, this time two teachers tortured and abused several special needs children in their care--children who couldn't speak out about what was happening to them.
Parents, even your special needs children deserve to be at home where it is safe, and where you can be there to protect them. Homeschooling special needs children can be done!
Check out these resources to start:
- E-Book: Teaching Jeremiah--a complete curriculum for teaching special needs children in preschool and early elementary grades.
- E-Book: Someplace Called Special--A Look at Homeschooling Special Needs Children
- Special Words for Special Needs--Blog posts by a mom homeschooling several special needs children.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
World Net Daily reports that just may become the case for British parents who wish to homeschool their children. The law stems, in part, to a problem that some parents are using homeschooling as a way to disguise abuse. However, what the law doesn't stipulate is what is required to pass a background check, it invades the rights and privacy of parents, and presumes them guilty until proven innocent.
As I've said before, there are already laws in place--in both Britain and the U.S.--in regards to child abuse. Government agencies are refusing to back those laws up. While there are several homeschool parents in Britain who are in agreement with making tighter restrictions on themselves in order to get rid of the few who give them a bad name, they need to recognize that this bill isn't really about protecting them. It's about a government trying to find ways to slow homeschooling down--period. Find out which parties and agencies are backing this bill and I think you'll find they aren't, and never have been, friendly to homeschooling.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
Our family LOVES Christmas. What a more glorious way to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We have several traditions that we've started some newer, some later, but we very much enjoy them all. We started having Advent devotionals several years ago and we buy Christmas ornaments from our vacation spot for the year...I know many of you have similar traditions. The two traditions I want to share a couple that you may never have thought of before.
Several years ago Shane was laid off at Christmas. It was only by God's grace that we paid our bills, and in addition, we even paid off some debt. God is SO good! But we started a tradition that year that has remained. We make home made gifts that we share on Christmas Eve. The materials need to cost around $5.00. We've had everything from tissue paper art (when the children were younger) to an "imperfect" plaque I made one year of that year's family theme verse. The year Sweet Cheeks came home, her home made gift was a name plaque with the attributes we thought fit her. As the years pass, we have to help the younger ones less and less and the gifts are more and more creative.
The tradition that is fast becoming a favorite is our gift-giving tradition. Last year Desiring God (John Piper's ministry) offered a small paperback book that could be purchased by the case for $1 a book + shipping ONLY if they were given away. We bought 2 cases and wrapped each book in Christmas paper with a "Merry Christmas from our family" note. We gave them away to friends, family and to the people we met while shopping... the store clerks, the barista, whomever we met. It was SO MUCH FUN! We have continued the tradition this year. In addition to Piper's book, we've added some children's books we found on clearance at Answers in Genesis.
We've had people look in amazment at us, clerks have asked "for .... me?" yes! for you. Merry Christmas! We've had people jump up and down and say "I got a present" giving gifts to others helps us get the focus off of us, and almost always brings a smiler to the receiver. Giving books to those that we regularly see has helped us make friends with them. And, most importantly, we've planted a seed about Christ. What God does with that seed is up to him.
May your Christmas traditions glorify Christ and May you be blessed all year long!
From our family to yours!
Just to let you know... I will be giving the latest updates on our new facebook group... so feel free to join and hear the latest on when the newest addition (who WAS due the 13th) will FINALLY decide to enter the world! :)
Click on the following link: THE VERLENNICH BABY'S COMIN'!
Thank you to my cousin, Sue, who sent this.
XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL!!
If you go to this web site www.letssaythanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and
Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently
serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a
member of the armed services. NOTE THAT A LOT OF THE WORLD IS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU SO IT’S A LITTLE SLOW SO I RECOMMEND
YOU DO IT FROM HOME.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It
is FREE and it only takes a second.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?
Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know
we are behind them.
This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you.
Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to
do. We can never say enough thank you's.
Thanks for taking to time to support our military!
I can't believe I didn't mention her yesterday. She has been such a blessing to our family! I just love this baby girl SO much. She's always making us laugh and smile which is why I want to share this video of her. Watch for her famous cheesy smile at the end.
Some of you have written asking for some ideas at little or no cost for The 12 Days of Christmas. I understand COMPLETELY what it's like to be "strapped for cash", especially this time of year as gift giving is in full swing.
Here are some FREE ideas for you to love on your hubby...
- Massages are a great gift to give! You could even make a coupon to give to him in the morning (so he would be looking forward to it all day) or mail it to him at work. To take it a step further, you could even make this a gift for the entire 12 days, picking a different body part to focus on each night (uh... I don't have to tell you what to save for last right?) A good massage is at least 30 minutes. Sometimes it may seem longer to you than it really is, so be sure to look at the clock by your bed before you begin so you don't cut your sweet husband short!
- Breakfast in bed with a smile (and nothing else but a smile).
- Making coffee every morning and greeting your hubby with a cheerful "good morning". How we start our husband's mornings have a HUGE effect on the rest of their day, as well as how eager they are to come back. (I know that I wouldn't want to come home to me some days!) Make it your goal to be cheerful each day for the 12 days. Start his morning with a happy wife. If you work outside of the home and leave before him, then having the coffee pot with coffee and a sweet note would be a thought too.
- Pray for him each day. You could use The Power of a Praying Wife for this as well. Whatever you choose, and regardless if your husband prays with you or not, get out of bed each day with your knees hitting the floor before your feet do. Pray for the man God has blessed you with. Thank Him for your husband. Even if you're struggling in your marriage, ask God to give you the strength to get through the 12 days with love and compassion and to renew your marriage. You might be surprised what happens when he finds out that you're praying for him every day. Cover your husband in prayer each day... it may seem crazy, but YOU will become a better woman for it.
- Hmmm... this next one... well, it's REALLY simple and may get one of the biggest reactions from your sweetie... but if you can't afford to get some "blessings" to wear... you can always do what God intended from the beginning! That's right... NO panties. Be sure to whisper it in his ear at the grocery store, church, or before he leaves for work.
- One of my personal favorites (and my Beloved's)... Clean Lovin'.
- Take a marker and write SHMILY somewhere on your body for him to search for.
- Find out what he really likes by having him fill out the "I Feel Loved by You When You..." sheet... and then do it!
- Ice cream in bed together naked... one spoon. For the ice cream lover, you could get the pints of ice cream and have ice cream in bed every night. Don't worry about the diet... this is only 12 days... get fat on each other's love!
- Some "Christmas socks" you wear... and that's it!
- 12 pair of sexy panties... one for each day.
- Mistletoe (need I say more?) You could used this throughout the 12 days as well by having it show up in various places in the house... or various times... and it could mean more than just kissing. Write up a note and let your hubby know... you may want to even make it a "treasure hunt" by hiding it in various (obvious) places... and then follow through when he finds it!
- Three bows (or other wrapping ribbons for all over your body and hair) and place strategically on your body for him to "unwrap".
I don't blame you if you don't. It's been a while. Let's see if I can sum up the past few months in bullet points:
- Our pastor and his wife left our church. They were the only reason we were still attending. They could use some prayers for healing in their marriage. We are now attending a home fellowship we sure enjoy.
- We've been spending lots of time with some precious friends. We started hanging out with them in July (?). If a week goes by and we haven't done anything with them, we both hear it from our children. We are so thankful for them! We have a ton in common with them and every child has a buddy.
- We finished up soccer in the fall and basketball season has begun. I kind of liked our Saturdays being free and not spending the day attending games- I think I enjoy watching my children play soccer more than basketball.
- Millie turned 7 today.
- The children will be singing in their second Christmas program tonight and have one more to go. Josiah's the youngest one up there. He said a verse he has memorized in front of everyone last time and says he wants to do it again.
- Our Christmas tree resembles the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Gabe and Gracie chopped it down in our yard. It's a western red cedar and has about 7 branches, one of which Kenton had to tape back to the trunk. I love it.
- My camera is gathering dust.
- I still haven't finished Christmas shopping.
- I didn't get Christmas cards out this year.
- I haven't gotten a picture to use for December on the calendars I'm making as gifts.
- We've been on field trips to a fish hatchery, gone on an underground tour of our town, and to a paint-your-own pottery store where the children made some cute mugs. They fire and glaze them. They look really nice!
- We are on Christmas break for 3 weeks!
- I would like to start blogging more again.
- I hang out on Facebook far too much.
Until next time!