Nov. 16, 2009 - Let's See What God Will Do
Well, I just received news that proves that God's ways and the world's ways are not the same. Not that I really doubted this, mind you.
Because we receive rental assistance, we have to keep the agency notified of household changes - people moving in or out, income, etc. So when LizBeth turned 18, now legally an adult, I notified them to find out how/if this changes anything. It won't, until our lease is up in July. This is a good news/bad news situation. There are no changes yet -- but . . .
When our lease is up, we will no longer be eligible for a 3 bedroom unit, because the rules only allow 1 bedroom for every 2 adults in the home.
The upside of this is that the kids and I have been talking about moving when our lease is up anyway, now it's not a choice, we'll have to move. There is a freedom in this. At the same time there is also a frustration -- we won't be able to have a three bedroom place.
I'm praying for the Lord to do something really amazing that only He could do. By that point I should have my teaching certificate - I plan to do some tutoring as well as homeschool assessments, so we are working toward something that will generate income. We're praying for a piano for LizBeth, to further her own studies as well as to be able to give lessons to other homeschoolers. She's hoping to start taking Ballet lessons soon, so that she might one day be able to teach that also.
So hold onto your hats, I think the next eight months may be a bit of a wild ride.
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Nov. 15, 2009 - Where Does The Time Go?
My oldest turned 18 yesterday, where does the time go?
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Nov. 12, 2009 - Honoring Little Amelia
It's been a year since we lost Samuel, and we were expecting to have a new little one this December; but she went home to be with the Lord after only being in my womb for five months.
For some reason many people think if you have a large family, somehow these lost babies aren't as significant because you're already so blessed. But I want to tell you, your child, each child, is different, is unique, had its purpose and place in everyones heart no matter how short the time. This is also a good time to dispel the idea that they are just globs of tissue... and don't really count. We lost Samuel at 16 weeks. Perfectly formed. Amelia just shy of 20 weeks. Perfect. Fingers toes, a body that looked just like their daddy's and sister Bella. These babies are just that. Babies. Magnificently made. Family. Yours. Ours.
When someone asks me how many children I have I hesitate. Of course they see six, but I see 12. How do you answer such a question? For me I want to say I am the mother of 12, and proudly so. But I know how awkward it is for others, and out of consideration for them I reply "6".
From conception I have prayed for my children to be happy, healthy, and beautiful. to know the Lord, to love him and serve him all their days, and I pray for the Lord to bring them and bless them with a godly spouse who will always be a blessing to them.
Someday,I will stand in heaven with 12 beautiful children.
Until then, I want to take today to honor the life of my daughter Amelia Jane Lyles.
Nov. 12, 2009 - Stay, stay at home... a favorite poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Home keeping hearts are happiest,
For those that wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best.
Weary and homesick and distressed,
They wander east, they wander west,
And are baffled and beaten and blown about
By the winds of wilderness of doubt;
To stay at home is best.
Then stay at home, my heart, and rest;
The bird is safest in its nest;
O'er all that flutter their wings and fly
A hawk is hovering in the sky;
To stay at home is best
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Nov. 10, 2009 - A Conclusion to the Dilemma
Any of you that have followed my blog for long have known my on going struggle with whether or not Christians should receive welfare. Specifically, I have struggled with whether or not I should be in the system. There is a myriad of voices around me with opinions. The bottom line is that the only opinion that counts is Gods.
Several months ago, I finally, after much prayer, came to a point of resolve about this. I just realized I never shared it here with all of you.
If I were married to an unbelieving husband, he would be my provider. As long as he was willing to stay and did not ask me to do anything in violation of God’s word, I would be obliged to stay. There would always be the chance that by my words and example of faith, that he might come to Christ.
The Lord spoke to my heart about the fact that I had married the government when I went into the system. It was not His best choice for me, but I lacked faith and was disobedient, unwilling to trust Him totally. Until God closes the door and ends our benefits, I am to remain where I am, for this season. This is God’s provision for my family. He wants me to stop struggling and trying so hard to do it on my own and to simply rest in Him.
In all of this, the Lord has answered my prayer for a full-time ministry from home. In my home state the welfare system requires that you be working, looking for work, going to school or volunteering in order to be eligible for benefits. My state homeschool organization qualifies as an acceptable organization to volunteer for. I can work to support homeschooling, ministering to others, while homeschooling my children. It also has given me the opportunity to go back to school and do the necessary work to complete my teaching certificate, not so much for me to be able to seek full time employment, but so that I can do assessments for homeschooling families. There is a seeming lack of homeschool friendly certified teachers in our state. I hear horror stories every year about teachers that did assessments, but really didn’t understand what they were doing or reviewing. The Lord is opening up an amazing door there for me to have an ongoing ministry to homeschooling families, because who understands it better than someone who is doing it every day.
It is my prayer that this season in our life may be coming to an end. It’s going to require a lot more faith and trust than I have now. It’s also going to require contentment with what the Lord provides. It is going to require caring more about the Lord and His leading than what people around me think of what I’m doing. I can’t do it alone. It will only be by His grace and for His glory that we will succeed.
I should add an end note here, that while we have less financial support than every before in our homeschooling, we are able to do so much more with it. It is the kind of thing that only God could do.
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Nov. 9, 2009 - Gleaning the Harvest
It's been quite awhile since I've been here to add anything of substance. The Lord had me keep silent, deal with some sin in my life, processes through some anger and forgiveness issues. I just couldn't write. I'm not sure I can yet, but I will soon be drafting some articles for Gleaning the Harvest and thought it best to try to get back on track here also.
So many things in my life have changed in the past year. Through it one thing remains constant. I NEED to be at home with my children. Yes, they are older, but this is where the Lord has called me to be.
I'm so sad for those who don't understand, or don't want to understand how important it is for all mothers, but especially single mothers to be at home with their children.
So, watch here, and at Gleaning the Harvest for forthcoming articles.
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Nov. 5, 2009 - Mid Term
Well, it's been awhile since I've updated. Now that I have FB, it seems like I"m never here. Or maybe it's that I'm teaching a class. Or it could be that I'm taking a class.
We've reached the midterm point and I'm on the down hill side of this one.
I talked to a lady this morning who was so encouraging. She said she felt I was an inspiration to her, because she had a hard time homeschooling as a married mom, and couldn't imagine how hard it must be for me. She recognized that it must truly be the Lord's calling, because no one would do this for the fun of it. This was so refreshing.
We're approaching the holidays and the busyness of all of that. How are things with all of you?
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Oct. 15, 2009 - Updating
It's been awhile, I know. Things are very, very hectic right now.
I'm taking one of the two classes that I have left to become a state certified teacher -- no I'm not giving up and going to work, just trying to add credibility to my business and to be able to be a blessing to homeschoolers by providing annual assessments.
I'm working on growing Patchwork Cottage into a viable business -- so far this year we're doing about 4x better than we did last year -- and in a faultering economy. God is so good. I have 10 sewing students and have sold several quilts.
I'm a regular volunteer for our state homeschool organization -- I seem to be busier than ever before and know I'm doing more than the hours that dhhs requires for us at present. Job security is a good thing.
And Facebook has certainly replaced blogging as a major time stealer in my life. It's so easy to just have it up in the background when I am working on business or school related things....
Oh, and I'm homeschooling.
But hey, you all know I'm home all day, every day, so I must have plenty of free time, right??? Bring on the Soaps, diet Coke and BonBon's....
Gosh, I only wish.
How are you doing?
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Sep. 28, 2009 - 1001 Books To Read Before You Die - For Those Who Love Lists of Books
I am researching Robert McCloskey for a paper I have to write for the class I'm taking. In the process, I found this list. I thought I'd share it. I'm trying NOT to feel pressured, but I haven't heard of 1/2 these books, and of the ones I have heard of, I may have read 1/2 of them.
If I'm going to do everything I'm suppose to as a homeschooling mom and read all these books -- I'm gonna have to get busy, like yesterday.
http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/1001%20Books%20You%20Must%20Read%20Before%20You%20Die
Blessings, MaggieRaye
Sep. 24, 2009 - Too Cute Not To Share - "You'll Get Your Quilt"
A friend sent this to me in an email:
> You'll Get Your Quilt
>
> Sunday after church, a mom asked her very young daughter
> what the Sunday school lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be
> scared; you'll get your quilt."
>
> Needless to say, the mom was perplexed.
>
> Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the mom
> asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was
> about.
>
> He said, "Be not afraid; thy comforter is coming."
