It has been busy, busy, busy around here. My husband and I have started a homeschool group, and we are hosting a Cowboy Camp for homeschoolers at a local ranch. It has been awesome. I will post pictures and more information about what we've done at the Cowboy Camp soon.
We've had 2 birthdays in my house in 9 days. I now have a 1 year old and a 4 year s old---WOW!!! Where does the time go?
In Chicago there have been 3 or more shootings of young children in 5 days(all recently graduated from 8th grade). One of which was someone in our family. He was my husband's uncle's brother's grandson. Now that might seem down the family tree a little bit, but it really isn't. Jeremy went to church with my hubby's family and mine (even though we don't go there). He spends just about every holiday with us.
My father, who I never really saw growing up, is very ill and has recently been put in a nursing home for rehabilitation. I'm dealing with the reconciliation of feelings toward him, but my daughter says her greatest prayer for him is that he will accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. To that I say, AMEN!
My sister in law's mom is on a ventilator and she might be faced with making a difficult decision. Another one of my sister-in-law's sister's husband recently died. My mother went to the eye doctor recently for a routine exam and was given a severly, bad report about her eye condition, but God is still God.
Though there is death, sickness and many things that can bring fear into your life, I choose to meditate on this... Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dyeing around you, these evils will not touch you. Psalm 91:5-7
Yes, we are still going to the new church. I am nervous about saying that I enjoy it and that I think it is God, so instead I'll say this, "I will watch and pray and be still." In the midst of all of that, I'll enjoy the place that I'm at and see what God is doing.
Well, I'll post pictures really soon. I'd do them tonight, but I'm not good at all of that yet, so it takes me a long time to do that, and I'm very tired (birthday for the new 4 year old and Cowboy Camp in one day)!.
Most of you know that we left our church 3 months ago. Well, in those three months we went to visit a couple churches and decided that was not going to work for our family. We didn't want to keep going to different churches every week, because we wanted some stability for they kids (there's 6 of them age 9 and under). So, for three months we have had "church" in our living room. We decided that we'd do this until God showed us otherwise. Well, He did.
Saturday evening, I was going to pick up some Freecycle things. A friend of mine had told me that some people who had been in our small group went to a church that they really liked. Well, my Freecycle pick up was in that city, so since I was passing the street of the church, I thought I'd drive by and see its service times. Well, I did, but across the street were three people standing outside what seemed to be a church.
Reluctantly, I drove across the street to talk to the three people. They were the Pastor and two elders of this church. I asked them what the name of the church was and they said, "Well, as of tomorrow it will be called..." They began to tell me Sunday would be their first service, and that they were renting the church from the ministry that was across the street (the one where I'd just been looking at the service times). They were wonderful people, so I asked hubby what he thought, and he said, "Let's go!" So that is what we did.
Today, we went to the service, and it was very nice. It was almost scary. My husband, who had said that he probably would never sing in a church again, actually sang there today, even though we knew no one. The children did well, and the service wasn't too long, though it was longer than what we'd been acustomed to over the last two years. After service they had a reception. We stayed and talked and asked a lot of questions about their beliefs and mission. Needless to say, we plan to go back next week. We don't know what God is doing, or even if this is it, but we are willing to go along for the ride, again!
The funny thing is that when I talked to my friend this week ( I mentioned her earlier), she asked if we'd found a church. She said they had, but it was by their house which is quite a distance from mine. I told her that I didn't want to travel to church, because I'd end up not going. I also told her that I knew a lot of the churches in the area and didn't think they were what we were looking for. Then I jokingly said, "It would take God to create one!" Funny, it looks like that is what He did!
If you live in the Chicagoland area, consider being a part of a GREAT learning experience. We're making drums with Stan "The Drum Man". The dates are April 10-14. Check out the following information, and you can determine what workshop location you are closest to. Here's another link giving more info. Hope to see you there! We are finalizing are registration, so please email me for further registration info. Pre-registration is required!
My friend Val has done it again. She runs a blog and a yahoo group, as well as, a monthly newsletter. She's a wife, mother and certainly a friend. I'm not sure how she does it all, or how she organizes everything that goes on in her life (maybe she could write that in the newletter or do a e-seminar on that..hint).
Now she has developed a homeschool teacher resource called Weblink Education. Well, she wants all of us home educators to know about it, so she's even having a contest. I must say that the contest isn't why I'm posting about this. She has done hours of work so we don't have to. She recognized a true need and followed her call to help and encourage homeschoolers, and she presses ahead to complete the task.
See, I can't do what Val does, and I don't have to, because we are fittly joined together, all of us. That is special. Let's support Val in her efforts, as well as, other moms who are opening doors for us in the homeschool arena! Thank you VAl for you hard word and for hearing God's voice and obeying Him! Congratulations Val and thanks a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How will my children process , in their minds, me being their mother. Will they think I was always too busy cleaning, washing, rushing, etc. that I couldn't play with them? I can't remember the last time I sat on the floor and played with anyone. I don't think I've ever played dolls with my 9 year daughter. Now I must admit that as a child I didn't like to play with dolls. But that was only because I didn't have anyone to play with.
Will they remember a rigid, quick tempered fuss box that wanted perfection instead of allowing for inconvenient mistakes and mishaps? Will they think I was fun or too tired to go outside? Will they remember the potty training battles? Or will they think I tenderly trained them?
Will they want to be with me when I'm old? Will they sit and talk with me when I'm old, or will they be busy with life? Will they play cards with me or go outside with me when they are tired? Do they know I love them? I'm mean can they see God's love for them through me loving them? Will I be able to tell that they love me when life makes me the one that needs them?
Just things I'm thinking about tonight. But I will say this, I think I have some things I'm going to change. One thing is that I must spend time with them (not just watching tv). I don't actually think I know how to play! I mean just to sit around and play. I can play board games, but I'm talking about dolls, cars and superheroes. You know. I used to do fun crafts. Now I just clean or talk on the phone way too much!
Oh well, I'm just thinking out loud. Thanks for listening.
My friend Jenefer is so cool. She has the greatest blog titles, AND the best entries. She is one real person, and laugh - she can make you laugh so hard you'll spit stuff out your nose.
ANYWAY,
She's having a contest. You better get in on it, it's a great one!!!! Here is all the info you need to know. OH, and Jen and Coie are going to be REPS for Rosetta Stone at some lucky homeschool conferences this summer. Rosetta Stone, you are one lucky company to have those gals representing you.
Here is how to enter the contest:
Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!
This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.
This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.
To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.And good luck!The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!
I love the idea of lapbooking, but... Well, I have a lot of questions. I've spent many hours researching and studying, but I could use some practical mommy advice on how to get past my fears. I also need some step by step instruction without have to buy a book!!! Can anyone help me? I'm not the crafty one. I like to research but the artsy stuff I struggle with. However, my kids will love it. So I need your help !!!!!!
You Can Only Type One Word(if you read this, consider yourself tagged).
This is not as easy as you might think. Change the answers to suit you. It's hard to use only one word answers. When you're done, post a comment so I can check out your answers.Have fun!
It was a sad day around here. We had to give someone else our cat . I began to have severe and unbearable allergic reactions. I told my daughter that we were looking for a new owner. Well, my Princess cried. It took a few hours but a friend of mine helped us find a new owner. The new owner came to pick up the cat later that night. We were on our way to have icecream, so my husband put the children in the van, and we waited for the young lady to come and pick up the cat. She came, and the cat cried, and when we got in the van, the children were crying .
How awful!! We bought a book of furry cats, and there's a cat that lookes like ours, so everyone is happy. But i can said, if only for a minute, that I had a pet ! But our fishing are doing well. So all is not lost!
Well, once again I find myself in this place. When my husband and I left the church we'd attended for 10 years, we were sad for ourselves, but more so for the state of the body. The church we were attending had been thriving with mature and new Christians growing together with great teaching. Then oneday we woke up, and the church's leadership had jumped on the mega- church thing (we have no problem with big churches). The love for others had been coverd by the glitz and glamour of PROSPERITY. People with little to no money were buying expensive cars and houses (that they'd soon loose). All of this was to have the look of "prosperity".
My husband was the worship leader. He totally was against performances. If we were in a conference, extra effort was put forth (that wasn't done on any other Sunday). The extra was so that the other churches that would worship with us during the conferences would see how much our church worked in the "Spirit of Excellence". It wasn't about God at all. One conference, they actually wanted to hire professional singers, so that the cds and dvds that would be sold would be studio/professional quality. Well, after 10 years, after having 5 of our 6 children there and during the church and leadership being in a pyramid scam with someone wanted in 3 states for illegal acts, we packed up and left. Though it was the right thing for us, it was hard. My husband and I had chosen to worship here leaving our extended families at the church we'd grown up in.
We then made a list of churches we'd like to check out. We went to the first one and never made it to any of the rest. By some bizzarre act of God, my husband became worship leader again. Well, he promised that if the church wasn't right, we'd leave. We sat back and watched and were involved in ministry. I must say that I was revived. But during this time, some of the people who had been members for a decade or more began leaving. I actually blogged about my concern about this.
Let me give you some history. The church had been located somewhere else for about 20 years. The church was growing and families were being restored and children, as well as, adults were on FIREfor Jesus. They had had a "Revival" of sorts. Well, when the pastor decided to build somewhere else only 1/3 of members decided to go with him (I don't know why. I have my own thoughts but won't speculate!!). The church changed its name and started over. But one day we saw the original members, that had come, beginning to leave. Our eyebrows went up, because that is the same thing that happened at the old church. So we watched carefully, because we know when lots of people who've been with you a long time leave, they all can't be wrong.
So here we are. When my husband first got the position they told him to never say hallelujah. We thought that was strange. He also was never to wear a suit or tie. Well, that sat strangely with us,too, because we grew up in a church that was the exact opposite. The women could only wear skirts/dresses and the men could only wear suits and ties. So though this was refreshing, we looked at it as being just as controlling as the situation at the other extreme. The reason for the dress code was because he wanted the unsaved that might be at church to feel comfortable. My husband said well let me just see where this is going. One year passed and everything was seemingly great.
Then the problems started. I must say, without bias, that my husband is an excellent singer. We're not talking about early auditions on American Idol ! I've known him since I was 8. We never dated or even talked to each other. I can say hands down that he is called as a psalmist and is annointed. That being said, the pastor started telling him that when he sings high people can't sing with him (this is the same thing he had been praised for--my husband had said that what they praised him for would be the same thing they'd end up disliking). Well, I guess he was right.
One day at rehearsal, the pastor had enlisted the children's ministry head to come and critque worship on Sundays and give his findings at rehearsal that week (the guy plays sax a little). Well, his comments were so offensive, but my husband took them like a champ with a little laughter as well. He had the audacity to say that my husband should only sing from bass C to middle "C" since he is a tenor (as if God can't give peoplea different vocal ranges).
Well, we found that funny since the 3 Tenors and the 3 Mo' Tenors are all tenors and they all sing at different ranges, and one tenor in the 3 Mo' tenors has a range all the way up to mezzo soprano. Anyway!!!! This went on for months, and I was angry. If you don't want him to sing just say so. I believe they did this to try to get him mad so he'd blow up. Well, that wasn't going to work because he said they were just being used by the enemy, and that was who this fight was with. Very mature I thought.
He and the pastor had come to an impass. My hubby and I believe that church is a time for believers to come together to worship a holy God. We also believe that worship is for God and though we glean greatly from it, it is ultimately about and for God. He even went to the Bible to show him from scripture. Our pastor said, "I know but...what about the non believers that might come". So the last Sunday my husband sang, he was singing the words "We can't do this without you Jesus. We can't do this without you Holy Spirit." I must admit that I hadn't been in that kind of worship service for years.
Well, that Tuesday my husband was fired from the leadership position and asked not to come to rehearsal or sing there again. He said he was relieved because he believes what he believes and he ws glad he didn't have to quit. At first I was mad. Then I wasn't anymore, because we didn't go there because he was going to sing. I did have a problem though...We don't believe the way the pastor was taking the ministry. Now what?
During this time, someone called my husband to apologize because he had been used in the plot to get rid of him but didn't know it until it was done. He was sick and couldn't beleive that could be done in leadership. He asked to be reconciled with my husband. My hubby prayed for him and forgave him and embraced him when he saw him. He explained to him that it is easy for him to forgive because he will need forgiveness one day, too.
Well, we've been to church several times. Now other things have happened during the year like we haven't had communion in a year or baptism. Last Sunday I was so heavy, a weight sat on my shoulders. While at church I was weepy (that is not my personality at all). That night before I went to bed I asked God to show me what was happening. He showed me that the church was turning into a "seeker friendly church". These type of churches focus on the unsaved during church time and do things differently. Worship had a more entertainment focus (like where the church was heading). Now we love the unsaved and desire them to be apart of the kingdom. But we also realize that is what evangelism is for which is well suited for going out into the world and compelling men to come. We also believe there is room in the church for all as long as God is the focus and not man! We believe that it is the annointing of Jesus that destroys the yolk of bondage, and when a non believer comes into the four walls of the church the should see the manifest and tangible presence of God and not a made up and contrived rendition of worldly affairs to dupe them into thinking that the ways of the world are the same as the ways of the believer. That is bait and switch. In essence, it is a lie!! So God lead me to an article that explained why the others had left. You can read it HERE
But where does that leave us. Well, I'm not going back. Don't know where I'll go. My hubby isn't sure what to do. So pray for me. I'm just getting these feelings out the best that I can. I haven't been able to keep up with my blog bible study because my mind and heart have by so heavy. Well, I've forgiven them but now what? Sorry this was so long. Thanks for hearing my heavy heart and listening to me think out loud.
I'm sure you can see that the pink is gone (it wasn't really me). Thanks to Allison at Mission Field Designs , I have a look (though in progress) that is more me! She's great!! If you have ideas to help my blog, let me know.
These are the first pictures I've ever posted. I've struggled figuring this out. Thanks to my blog buddy, southmsmomof4 I've got it!!! The pictures are from "Art Day" at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Well, I have taken the plunge. We have a cat!!!!!!! This is a BIG step for me. I have never had a pet before. Actually, I'm scared of all "petlike creatures" (even our cat)! She is sweet and not a bother, but she jumps on things every once and awhile (go figure). Well, Daisy, that's her name, was given to us through Freecycle . Daisy is a beautiful orange, tabby cat. She is between four and six years old. She came from a household of 2 people and moved into a household of 8, so you can imagine that she hides most of the day!!!!!!!
Her previous owners had to part with her because their granddaughter was severely allergic. I like the idea of having a pet, but I must admit that I'm a little nervous. In the morning, when it is time to feed her (after my husband is gone to work), I wake my daughter up because I really don't want to be alone with the cat or have her climb/jump on me. If my daughter is awake, she'll play with her. Oh, the things we'll do for our children. My children and my husband love her. I think she's great too. I just have to shake the firts pet jitters.
I'm behind on posting the study of John. We've been going through a lot emotionally with the church, so... That being said, if you live in the Chicagoland area and are pleased with your church and it has sound biblical teaching, please forward the name or website! I will be posting about John Chapter 4 tomorrow!
John chapter 3 is so good. It made me reflect on my own humanity. I was thinking, "What if I was alive around the time Jesus came on the scene. Just think of it. He's a man that claims to be the Son of God, and John the Baptist (a strange character of sorts in his own right) says he is the Messiah! What would I think? What would you think?
Maybe I'd be likeNicodemus and steal away in the night to meet with him privily and talk to him to find out from him who he is. Or maybe I'd be like John's disciples and want to know why he's baptizing people when that's what they do. Or maybe I would have been like the other religious and governmental leaders (prideful and afraid). Or maybe Iwoul have been like the other mockers. Or maybe I'd become a convert. The truth is...I don't know!
What I do know is that John chapter 3 explains Jesus' purpose well. God sent Jesus to us to be our way to eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said in John 3:3, "Unless you are born again (of the Holy Spirit), you cannot see the Kingdom of God."
What was so refreshing about this chapter was this: that God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save it through him (John 3:17). And where I get my hope is John 3:36, " And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgement." (memory verse)
What will I take with me? Well, I will take away a taste of true humility as witnessed in John the Baptists' talk with his disciples. He explains to them that his role is merely that of the best man who is glad to stand up with the bridegroom while he marries the bride and is full of joy as he witnesses the union. He then says, "Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success." That stuck with me, because sometimes the body can compete with each other over and covet the gifts of each other causing contention within the body. John lives a wonderful example of working toward the cause of Christ while being dead to our pride and desires.
I really liked chapter 3! Chapter 4 will be for next week.
I've been tagged by MOMflippedisWOW to list 7 random things about myself and then tag 7 other people.
1. I'm an only child, but I have 6 children (go figure).
2. I'm very insecure about my birthmark and weight gain (after six children)
3. I'd love to own a RV.
4. I don't really like animals for pets (I'm scared and have allergies, but I'm willing to get a pet or 2 because my children love them).
5. I love being a Christian and serving God, but after lots of disappointments from the church (the body), I'm about 5 minutes for worshipping from my house.
6. I love Soul Food!!
7. I love hot weather and everything that goes along with it, but I live in a place that has 3-4 inches of fresh, falling snow right now with more to come before morning!
The book of John has so much in it to discuss. As I read it, I thought how could I ever discuss it because there is so much to say and to digest and to think about. So, I'll start with the beginning.
The Bible tells us in John 1:1 that "In the beginning was the Word (it already existed). The Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
I know that every time that I read this, I am still amazed. How can everything be created through the Word (Jesus). How did He give life to everything. That amazes me. Then I began to think as I continued to read that so far the first two chapters of John point to Jesus' role to bring life and bring us into the knowledge of grace and truth.
He existed from the beginning and was an agent in the creation and life gving of everything. We know that and see that, but the rest of the two chapters point to His light and life giving abilities. Jesus came to the world. He created it yet he wasn't recognized as the light of the world. But he would come as the kinsmen redeemer and be the bridge to the Father, that to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. He was the life giver in creation but was also the life giver through the redemption process. By accepting him as Lord and Saviour, the door to the Father and eternal life was opened through the new birth! He was full of grace and truth and gave freely grace and truth to us. And through him, God is revealed to us. Jesus, himself, said that He was the stairway between heaven and earth (John 1:51)
John the Baptist taught about the light. He knew the light (Jesus was his relative), but He didn't know that Jesus was the light (the Messiah) until Jesus came to be baptized and was revealed to him by God. The Holy Spirit shown above Jesus in the form of a dove. This was the sign the God told John the Baptist to look for. John used baptism as an outward sign of purification, but Jesus would do what non other could do. He gave life by offering forgiveness of sins (The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23).
As we go into chapter two, we see His first miracle (turning water into wine). When I read it this time what I realized is that the significance wasn't what he did in the miracle but what it signified. This was to show that the atonement process would be better through Jesus that through the original way of the animal sacrifice. In the old testament, atonement ocurred through the sacrifice of an animal offered up to God on your behalf by a priest. But now, once and for all, the blood would be shed and this time the later would be better than the former.
Jesus told the servants to take six stone pots that were used for ceremonial washing. According to my bible, Jewish ceremonial law said that people became unclean by touching objects of everyday life. Before eating, some water, from these stone pots that could hold 20-30 gallons, would be poured over the hands to cleanse the people of any bad influences associated with what they had touched. Likewise, Jesus' blood would be poured out on the cross to cleanse us form the contamination of sin. The significance of the water from the ceremonial pots can be paralled to the significance of the blood. The are both used to cleanse. When the bridegroom came to taste the wine he exclaimed, "A host always servers the best wine first. Then when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" Jesus' first miracle (though about wine) showed that the latest/new way to purify (through the blood of Jesus), though it was saved for last, is the best, the complete and only way. God save the best for last!
The last thing I have to say is about Jesus in the Temple (chapter 2). My prayer is we will be like Christ... that the passion for God's house and people (italics added by me) would consume us. What did God reveal to you? Please share.
Father, I thank you for a time to study your Word. I thank you that you are faithful to give understaning and revelation to those that seek your face. Pour out your spirit of each of us who will join together to search your Word. Let us be like Christ who revealed your glory through His life. We love you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Hi gals! I've been gone awhile. First, the squirrels ate through our phone lines. Their act caused us to go without phone/computer for awhile. Then my monitor went out. Then there was the holiday rush. Then we had the baby sick and the 5 year old with scarlet fever. But all is well, and I'm back now. Oh, we found a squirrel dead (he drowned) in the garbage can.
My heart is longing for an encounter with my Father. You know, the tangible, manifest presence of our holy God. I'm waiting and looking for Him. I have much to work on in regard to my prayer life and reading/studying time. So I'm going to systematically study the Bible starting with the book of John. Does anyone want to join me? On Wednesdays I will post what I've gleaned in my readings. I won't go fast. Nice and steady. During this time I will pick a verse a week to memorize. Well, I could use an accountability partner or two. Anyone game? I will read and study chapters 1-2 of the book of John for next Wednesday, and I hope you will join me.
Boy have I missed my friends. I hope everyone is well. Pray for me, that I will stay focused on my daily activities, that I will develop a workable daily routine, and that I will find a good pattern for teaching the 3 school age children and the preschooler, as well as taking care of the babies and playing with all.
Oh we have a new refrigerator. We got it in November. It was another unexpected blessing. God is good!!!!!!
I'm a wife to a wonderful, loving husband of 12 years. I'm a mom with 6 children aging from 9 years to 8 months. I have 1 princess and 5 superheroes. This is my place to share our home, our school and my heart! Welcome! Stop by anytime.
). 
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. I also need some step by step instruction without have to buy a book!!! Can anyone help me? I'm not the crafty one. I like to research but the artsy stuff I struggle with. However, my kids will love it. So I need your help 
. If you don't want him to sing just say so. I believe they did this to try to get him mad so he'd blow up. Well, that wasn't going to work because he said they were just being used by the enemy, and that was who this fight was with. Very mature I thought.
. Well, Daisy, that's her name, was given to us through ![]("http://images.blogthings.com/whatpartofthanksgivingareyouquiz/cranberry.jpg")
