I'm always full of emotions this time of year as I juggle back to school jitters.

When I was a student I was anxious about the new school year and whether or not I would like my teacher or have friends in my class. I wanted the right school supplies and an outfit that made me feel confident on that first day. Then of course, I needed the perfect haircut and a pair of shoes to complete my outfit.

During my college years I was anxious to visit with my friends again to find out about their summer adventures and continue on my journey to graduate.

When I was an elementary teacher I still had trouble falling asleep the night before the first day of school feeling anxious about whether or not I was adequately prepared and if I would be able to teach my new classroom group well.

Now, that I'm a homeschool mom/teacher I still have doubts about my abilities and still turn to God to calm my nerves. He is the Faithful One. I'm proud of how far we've come in our journey of homeschooling these past 10 years and the family we've become together. I'm eager to get back into our homeschooling routine (which is always changing). I'm hopeful of the new enrichment homeschool group we're joining that the kids will find some likeminded youth to have fun around.

The academics are important especially now that the kids are 7th and 10th grade, but my primary prayer for them is for maturing faith in Christ such as Ephesians 1: 15-19, The Amplified Bible:

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know {and} understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable {and} unlimited {and} surpassing greatness of His power in {and} for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

With Christ's help, this is going to be an excellent year of growing together in knowledge.

Hello, as I write my first ever blog, I want to give credit to the Lord Jesus Christ for His hand of grace in my life bringing me out of darkness into His light of love. May my life reflect His glory in all I say and do being a blessing to the Lord always.

Ephesians 4:29 (Amplified Bible)

Let no foul {or} polluting language, {nor} evil word {nor} unwholesome {or} worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good {and} beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need {and} the occasion, that it may be a blessing {and} give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

Words have power. My natural tendency was to speak critical words thinking I was performing my helpful role of as mother of the home guiding my cherubs in righteousness. However, in the ears of the listener my critical words were unwholesome. Credit goes to my loving husband of 19 years, James who gently read to me Ephesians 4:29 from the NIV Bible years ago. Though I don’t recall his exact words I remember that I was convicted of my ways and we prayed together for God’s grace to help me learn how to speak helpful words.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV Bible)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Since then we’ve also learned about the Five Love Languages and discovered words are just one of the ways we can help fill someone else’s emotional love tank. I’ll write more about that topic later as it’s a wonderful way to figure out how to bless others.

By the power of the Holy Spirit I'm learning how to spew forth words of grace that build up my family, so that's why I named this blog House of Grace. I pray that you would apply these words and be able to show God’s grace and be a blessing to others.

Grace to you,

Corrine