This week we have been reading a book named Chicken Man by Michelle Edwards. The story takes place in Isreal and Rody also known as the Chicken Man lives in a Kibbutz (community living). Everyone works and in return they get housing, food and clothes. Everyone in the Kibbutz had to switch jobs when a new schedule came out. Well Rody the Chicken Man loved to work in the chicken coop, but when the new schedule came out he would go on to his next job and do his best without complaint. He was always happy when he worked, which made other people request his job before the new schedule would come out.

My oldest son said Chicken Man is kind of like Joseph. No matter what he was doing he did his best.

See those connections? Amen

       Dear Father in heaven the keeper of all things. The Master of all the lands in the universe. The God who is sure and a promise keeper. The rock of my salvation. The giver of wisdom, peace and understanding.

     The High Almighty God who reigns forever.  Some try to be like You, imitate You, but there is none who is soverign like You, merciful like you, wise like you, almighty like you, or all knowing.  They can't even look at you, touch you or ever stand beside you.  I am honored that I can pray to you, call you my Father and call me your child.

Amen.

      It has been so long. School is going well. This month we are learning the I Have A Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr.  This will also help with our history lessons. Right now we are memorizing the part of the speech that goes like this... "Five score years ago, a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. " That great American was Abraham Lincoln, so this gives us the opportunity to learn about Abraham Lincoln the 16th president, and how the slaves and fighting the civil war brought about the Emancipation Proclamation. Pray for us. That the Lord will bring success in raising three great mighty men of God.

"Your playing small does not serve the world." So PLAY BIG.

Stephanie

     We are on our second day back in school. It is so hard to get back into the groove. Which makes me feel we should never stop.  Kingston had a good day in school today. He does so good with puzzles. We all were putting together an United States of America map and Kingston put half of the the map together. It was great to watch.  He enjoyed this part of the day. He really does well with small details. I need find more things to help him develop those skills. If you have any suggestions please comment.

Outside cover

My son showing off the inside.

Sweetie's birthday. Look at those crooked candles

She looks great!! Guess her age....

Kingston took a nap on my bed today.  When he woke up, he came into the living room and he didn't have on his socks.

"Kingston where are your socks?" "In your room" he says.  We go the the room and I find two back coverings of the T.V. remotes and two batteries stuffed into his sock.  "Kingston, what were you doing?"

Kingston ""

 Ya know its on thing to take the backs off the remotes, and pull out the batteries, but to stuff them in your sock.

You Did it.                                             

Soooooooo Fine.

   Before having children, I use to have a tree filled with pretty Red and Gold ornaments.        Just Simple.  So now we have a new family tradition of letting our children pick out an ornament every year. Well as you can discern my "Just Simple" tree is changing. Take a look at it. We are not quite finished decorating yet, and can you find the Spiderman, Elmo, a football, and a soccer ball. Big Bird will soon to follow and many more.

However, I am surprised each year, no matter how many superheroes gather on my Christmas Tree it looks great. And beautiful it maybe, but "Just Simple", not anymore.

   My life reflects the same sentiment...not "Just Simple" anymore, but great, yes. 

   Good Evening. Tonight I was making Solomon's bed (age 4) as I was putting on the waterproof mattress cover (quilted on the top; plastic on the bottom), he says "I don't want that on my bed." I said it will make your bed soft. He said, "It looks like a diaper, do you want me to wear a diaper?" As I smile and roll my eyes, I said "no, I do not want you to wear a diaper.  This covering is to keep your mattress dry if you pee in the bed. I need you to stay dry."

   My husband promptly tells me I should have told him to stop wetting the bed so you don't have to use the waterproof mattress cover.

This is my first year homeschooling, and I have learned something that has brought more insight to my life. My three boys and I learned a famous quote by Merriam Williamson that has encourage us all to find our greatness. It goes like this....

    Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. Its not just in some of us; its in all of us. And as we let our light shine we unconciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others.

Merriam Williamson

I want my family to Play Big - never small. My goal is to evoke, and manifest the glory of God that is within them. To learn their talents and gifts to develop and nourish.