1 year ANNIVERSARY – CONTEST – GIVE AWAY!!

It’s been one year on May 29^th since I began blogging! – Wow! – Where does the time go? --- It goes quickly – that’s where. 

  To have good friends is one of the highest delights in life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest undertakings.” – Unknown

 I would like to host a contest/give away --- in celebration of my one year of blogging and in HONOR of FRIENDSHIP!  I am a person who values FRIENDS very highly.  I take friendship seriously – I invest in those that I call – FRIEND.  FRIENDSHIP, to me - is a relationship of TRUST – and OPEN COMMUNICATION and being able to GENUINELY and AUTHENTICALLY SHARE YOUR HEART! 

Share with me here on my blog about the person you have had as your OLDEST/LONGEST friend – (tell me how long you have been friends, when and where you became friends, and why that friendship is highly valued to you!)

This contest is going to be a LONG one --- I don’t get a lot of “traffic” on my blog – and that’s okay…but; I’d like to see how many I can get to take part in the contest. 

I’d LOVE it – if you – my BLOGGER  FRIENDS – would share on YOUR BLOG – about the contest I am having.  The contest will run from APRIL 29^th to May 29^th - Please, help get the word out to your FRIENDS - J - Thank you!

On MAY 29^th – I will pick a winner – and announce who it is – and send a FRIENDSHIP PACKAGE for you to enjoy –The package will be filled with:  a prim stitching about friendship, a book on friendship, a gift card to FRIENDLY’s and a few other surprises for you to discover when you receive the FRIENDSHIP PACKAGE.

 The friend I have had for the longest time is:  NANCY.  Nancy and I have been friends for 34 years – (since KINDERGARTEN).  We have been through our “whole life” together.  --- She lives in PA and we don’t see each other as often as we would like – but; our FRIENDSHIP has remained tried and true and solid --- We can pick up like we haven’t missed a day.  We call each other not only FRIEND – but; SISTER.  ~ Charity

There are so many times that I think I take for granted - the day that I have been given - and that my family will be here...

Only He that holds us in His hand...knows...

My heart breaks for this family below...PLEASE keep them in your prayers...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/dixiecajuns/530801/?#c1053230

the earthquake victims of China...

I can't even imagine...

Outside my window - the birds are singing and feeding on sunflower seeds

I am thinking - about our dream of homesteading - and knowing that for now - it's been put on hold

I am thankful for - my homeschool group

From the kitchen - plans and menus for tonight's dinner of grilled chicken, gnocchi with alfredo sauce and salad

I am creating - minutes from our Mom's Time meeting for homeschool group

I am going - to mow the rest of the lawn

I am reading - out loud to the children today

I am hoping - to hear from my mom today - I've tried to call 3 days in a row and they are never home

I am hearing - Rachel's pencil go across the wooden school table as she works on health

Around the house - the children are doing their school work and I am thinking of summer projects I would like us to tackle

One of my favorite things - baking

A few plans for the rest of the week:

The children's art exhibit for class on Friday, softball practice and baseball game, going to see the lilacs and enjoying Mother's Day this weekend

  **I found this great article today online --- and I sometimes hear that comment"  "But Mama, Everyone's Doing It" --- The thing is "most" of our children's friends are other believers - some are homeschooled, some are in PS ---- and the things we don't let our kids do are things like:  (watch certain movies, or televsion shows, listen to secular music, or get any of the xbox, play station, wii games, etc., etc.) --- My dh and I don't believe that these decisions that we have made for our family have been bad.  We stand behind those decisions...I think that we might even be a bit more flexible in our decisions because - as our children get older we may let them see a movie at 13 - that we wouldn't allow at 6.  --- There are also - some things we will just NOT tolerate and are going to stand firm on them.  These are things that our children think "they are missing" right now - but; we believe in the long run - they will eventually thank us for not allowing them to do or partcipate in those things (which we believe are not right for our family). 

But Mom, Everyone's Doing It

Has your child ever come to you and made the statement "Everyone's doing it," to get you to give in to a request? Children use all kinds of tactics to get permission for things parents would rather not say yes to. Keep these three things in mind when you are challenged with that statement.

First, sometimes kids believe that appropriate behavior is determined by the culture. Rather, the rules you set up are based upon the values you hold. Different families have different values so as parents we need to decide what values and convictions we are going to use to determine the rules and expectations for our own families.

Second, not everyone else is doing it. There are many families that set guidelines similar to, or even more strict, than yours. Children have a tendency to find more permissive families to compare themselves to so they can ask for more.

Third, recognize that this statement is a manipulative technique. It makes us feel like we’re depriving our kids of something. Parenting is hard work and too many parents are unwilling to take a stand for what’s right and for values that are wholesome and healthy.

Don't let your children push your buttons with the statement, "Everyone's doing it." Instead, use the opportunity to teach them about your convictions and the values behind the rules you set.

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night - or - been going through your day - and all the sudden; the Lord lays someone on your heart and mind? - It happens to me often - and I stop and pray for that person.

A few weeks ago - my Grandma Neva and Grandpa Lawrence were heavy on my heart.  I don't know where they stand with the Lord (on any type of personal relationship). They have never gone to church in my 39 years.  I'm not saying you have to go to church to have a personal relationship with the Lord ---- I have just never seen or heard them attest to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

I believe the Lord laid them on my heart to connect with them and ask them where they stand in their relationship with Jesus Christ - or - if they even have one.

The thing is...

I never called.

I haven't asked.

I still do not know.

The next time the Lord lays someone on my heart so heavily - I don't want to hesitate...

I want to take action.

I want to know.

I love my grandparents.  I want to spend eternity with them.  I don't want them to be lost - forever. 

If you have someone you know and love that you feel you should share the love of Christ with - don't wait...We are not promised tomorrow.

My Grandma Neva is in the hospital, tonight.  She suffered a mild-heart attack today. - I pray the Lord will give my mom an opportunity to share Jesus with her while she is visiting her.

 *Taken from God's Daily Promises... 

This week's promise: God delights in those who honor him

Greater than our dreams

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 NLT

I have found that the most extravagant dreams of boyhood have not surpassed the great experience of being in the will of God, and I believe that nothing could be better.

Jim Elliot

No locked closets

What does it mean to be a person after God's own heart? Seems to me, it means that your life is in harmony with the Lord. What is important to him is important to you. What burdens him burdens you. When he says, "This is wrong, and I want you to change," you come to terms with it because you have a heart for God.

When you are deeply spiritual, you have a heart that is sensitive to the things of God. "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely his" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely his. They have no locked closets. Nothing's been swept under the rugs. When you do wrong, you admit it and come to terms with it.…You long to please him in your actions.

Charles R. Swindoll in David: A Man of Passion and Destiny

Girlfriends are a gift from God, and the beauty within them is His reflection - Bonnie Jenson

I love my girlfriends - I am blessed - I consider them to be my sisters.  --- Chances are - if you are taking the time to come by and read my blog and spend a few moments checking in on me...you are among those cherished girlfriends - Thank you for your friendship and sisterhood.

Charity

I am blessed to also call - my MOM my girlfriend.  Today is her birthday!   She is such a wonderful woman of God and I am so thankful for her and all she is to our family!

My dear, sweet friend - AMY - at http://www.homesteadblogger.com/SimpleFolk/ has put something like this on her blog a few times and I just love it - I thought I would try...

Outside my window - is the freshly cut grass

I am thinking - about friends coming over tomorrow afternoon

I am thankful for - my children's good health

From the kitchen - dishes drying in the drainer

I am creating - plans for homeschool group tomorrow (I teach the K and 1st graders)

I am going - to spend time with my dh in our cozy family room

I am reading - 1 novel, 1 homeschool book and my Bible

I am hoping - some of the health issues I think I may be having - are nothing - and I get the courage and time to call the doctor and go see him this week (long-winded answer)

I am hearing - Rachel come home from dance class

Around the house - Aaron is getting ready for bed, Sarah is supposed to be sleeping (but; is singing), the dryer is going and Rachel is getting a little snack before bed

One of my favorite things - QUIET - a peaceful, serene backyard with NO cars driving by and the sounds of the night

A few plans for the rest of the week:

homeschool group, chapel, piano, Wednesday night programming for church, art class, baseball and softball practice

I want to try and be upbeat and happy - every day - EVEN when there is NO sunshine - yet; I tell you - try as hard as I might - the sunshine has so much to do with how I feel.  YES, the SON is shining in my heart - yet - physically, emotionally, mentally - whatever it may be - I just need and really do so much better with the SUNshine, too.

Thank you, Lord - today and the past few days have been FULL of SUNNY days and BLUE SKIES with very few clouds. 

I think the "s" word - shhh - I'll share it with you - "s-n-o-w" - is finally gone for the season - and spring has sprung. - YEAH!

Looking ahead - MAY 29th is my 1 year anniversary of BLOGGING! --- I don't have a lot of exciting things to blog about and I'm not sure I get many visitors - but; it's an anniversary...anyway...

I hope to announce some sort of contest on APRIL 29th and actually run it for a whole MONTH -  I know...quite long...oh, the anticipation...So - I'm going to count on you - who do read this - to get the word out - I'll let you know...

Thanks!

Happy SUNNY day from my part of the world - Charity

Okay - Here I am again...It's time to think about curriculum...I thought I knew for sure - thought I'd go ABEKA all the way - it does work and works for us... - but; Rachel is asking if we can look into other things for Science and History...

So - What do you use and for what grades? --- Sometimes I think I don't even know what other options are out there.

Have your friends come over and answer my question, too - I'd love many responses.

Blessings!

Thanks - Charity

HEIDI at   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ReviewsbyHeidi/ found this cute store --- http://www.littlepiddles.com/ --- It's a store run by a Stay At Home Mom named - JENNIFER.  She has a blog that can be found at http://littlepiddles.blogspot.com/

The items that I have had time to look through are soooo cute and adorable!  I just love them.  I'm out of the baby stage myself - but; I have twins coming via my sister in September!  Oh, how much Aunt Charity could have "spoiling" these little ones at this new, fun store! --- Take a moment and check it out and then check out the contest Heidi is having for a $25 gift certificate! - Join in the fun - at Heidi's blog - before next Friday!

My dh, Mark and I come from very different families...

My family is very big in number - I'm the oldest of  siblings - with the spouses and grandchildren - there are 27 of us now...(Mark has one sister)

Mark's family plans everything - they would NEVER dream of just stopping by our house for a visit and they only live 10 miles away (My family lives over 2 hours away and we see them MORE than we see his family and my family SPONTANEOUSLY shows up for visits - sometimes without warning)

My family grew up "churched" - out of the seven of us - a number have turned away from what they were taught or even the decision they made as children. (My husband's family all walk with and serve the Lord)

My family is loud (Mark's is quiet)

My family is chaotic - uncontrolled chaos and controlled (Mark's is ALWAYS calm)

It's amazing to see the differences and even wonder - HOW did Mark and I even come together and begin to build a family of our own...

What we know - is that it was and is DIVINELY designed. 

God knew...

He had a plan...

and we continue to stand amazed as we see it unfold.

We are all so different - it can be a challenge at times...

We all have our issues, we all have our little quirks ---

Yet - we work through them...because we are FAMILY.

Days...

Weeks...

Months...

I'm not sure if I can pin-point just one thing that's been "bringing me down"...

I almost hesitate posting this - because if anyone does come and read this - they'll see...that's it's not a "susie-sunshine" post as I like to call them ---- journaling happy thoughts --- even when I don't really feel like sharing "happy thoughts" - it's not to bring anyone down - it's not to be negative - I call it - being a realist. --- We all have those days...

I remember reading a blog where someone criticized women who come and share their hearts when they've had a bad day --- they believed that we need to really come here and put all positive, glowing, happy thoughts - all the time...

That would be nice - and when I get to heaven and keep a blog there...PTL - I'll be able to do that.  Right now - I'm here on earth - where I am not perfect nor do I lead a perfect life.

Don't get me wrong - I do have plenty to be joyful about - and I am.  I know that I am a very blessed woman. 

I just happen to have some of "those days"...

It could be the overcast skies and no sunshine, the very long winter, hormones, my thyroid, menapause (yes, you can go through it before 40), extended family, trying to get through our homeschooling day - and everything else that comes along our way, and some days just feeling - BLAH. 

I know - they are all things - that I can do something about - some days - it's just overwhelming...

Some days - I just want to cry

Satan is roaming about - seeking whom he may devour --- and I know he is real

BUT

I know who will have the final victory

I know who holds tomorrow and holds my hand

and I pray - that I will get out of this "funk" - as my friend - Missy and I call it ...

and move along to brighter days of faith, hope and charity

I'm one for authenticity - if you haven't noticed after reading this post - I'm not going to wear a mask - and have you ask me - "How are you doing, Charity" - and just say - "fine" and go along...

Some days - I'm not just "fine"...

God is good and - He never promised me a rose garden

BUT

He did promise to never leave me nor forsake me

Praise His Name

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Today - my heart is in prayer for a dear friend - who has recently had a loss...

I love you, dear sister.

Charity

Heidi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ReviewsbyHeidi/ - has a tag on her blog that looked fun...so...here goes.

5 random facts about me:

1. I am the oldest of 7 children

2. My youngest brother is 19 years younger than me

3. I have traveled to South America

4. I wore braces for 4 years!

5. I like to wear flip-flops

5 weird things about me:

1. I LOVE to go barefoot - all the time (yes, I do wear shoes in public - but; would choose not to - if I could and it was clean, safe, etc.)

2. I don't like to wear socks - even in the winter

3. I've eaten guinea pig in South America

4. I sleep with no socks on - and my feet OUT of the covers

5. I need a room completely DARK and some type of fan/white-noise going to fall asleep

5 things on my desk:

1. monitor

2. printer

3. picture of my mom at a young, married 19 and me just days old

4. a ceramic cup my brother made with pens and pencils in

5. a prim sign that says:  "To learn, is to grown"

5 of my best friends:

1. I'll have to cheat and use Heidi's #1, too - my TGR girlfriends - they are the BEST!

2. Alison

3. Krista

4. My mom and all 4 of my sisters - Rachelle, Janna, Elissa and Marla

5. My incredible husband - MARK - my very best friend!!

*If you'd like to be tagged - consider yourself "tagged" - if not - no worries - Have fun!*

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fDmp967UMds  Interesting - Take a look - you never know... I'm not saying we should all just sit there and start ministering to someone who is trying to rob us --- just be open to what the Lord may have in store for you.

LEAH

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/leahlovesebooks/

I have some of the best girlfriends at my favorite online group on the net.  I met Leah online a number of years ago - and met her face to face last November - she's such a sweetheart!

It's sweet Leah's birthday today - the last day of March!

I pray she is super-blessed.

Love you, friend - Charity

It's spring-time!! Baseball season is here!!  It's one of our family's favorite times of year and one of our busyiest - but; we wouldn't have it any other way.  Our son and another family's son have been playing together for a number of years and we just LOVE to go watch and support the boys and their love of baseball.  Our younger children play, too - and it's baseball and softball - from March until June to July and it's wonderful. 

Tonight was the first night of evaluations.  It went very well.  There is another night of evaluations next Thursday and then the draft that following Saturday. 

I'm sure there will be more to write about and share as the season goes on. 

One thing we are so blessed about is the program.  They know their baseball AND it's a Christian program that really focuses on the kids growing in Christ.  What a blessing this program has been.  Thank you, Lord. 

Only great minds can read this

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too 

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.