~ About Me ~
Hi, welcome to my blog. I will be sharing our experience as we homeschool 5 boys - our struggles, trials, prayers, and blessings. There are many challenges along the way for any homeschooler and I hope you are encouraged by what you read here. We use Sonlight and My Father's World as our main curriculum. Thank you for stopping by and comments are welcomed.
Another year...how can I deepen my walk with the Lord? How can my husband and I develop our children's relationship with Him? I seem to always think of these things when a new year begins. I reflect over the last year and see where we have failed and want to do better.
The boys - The one thing I would like to see change is a more consistent family devotion. I have a time during the day when the boys and I have a Bible class and we talk about life application, prayer and memorize scripture. But unfortunately my husband, Alex, can not join us for these times. So we are trying to decide when this should take place and how often. We have decided that the boys will either listen to or read a portion of the New Testament each day and once or twice a week we will gather together to discuss the passage of scripture. I am sure there will be a time of worship (because Alex loves to sing and play) and of course we will end the time with praying for each other and others.
For myself - it is time for me to read through the Bible again. It has been awhile since I read it cover to cover. My friend gave me a devotion Bible. It takes you through the Bible in a year and each day there is a devotion for the passage that you have read. I pray it will life changing and not just something I am doing just to do it. There have been times I read through the Bible just to read it and say I did but I want my life to be different when next December comes around. We are studying the book of Joshua in our small group so I will continue with that until we are finished. Then to wherever we feel the Lord is leading us. What a great book of faith! I am enjoying it and look forward to each week as we get to sit and discuss it together. I am also longing to spend more time in prayer either in the morning or at night. Alex and I would also like to spend time praying together each week and reading from the word. We have good intentions but it doesn't always seem to work out. But I do not want to beat myself up when we don't accomplish our goals. I will do my best to extend grace to myself and my family...we will seek forgiveness and move forward. I have to remind myself - this is not a set of rules that I have to follow but a way of life. It shouldn't be rigid but flowing...know what I mean?
Well those are my thoughts on what things I plan to do this year to strengthen my walk with the Lord. As far as goals for keeping the house clean etc. I haven't made any...I just do the best I can do with the hours in my day and well that's the way it is...sometimes I think my list of things to do are just failures waiting to happen because I tend to have big dreams when it comes to keeping my house clean and organized...for the most part it is (except the basement...don't tell anyone) with 5 boys and 2 dogs in the house!
I look forward to a new year and to what the Lord has in store for our family. Oh I hope to do a better job keeping my journal with answers to prayers and thoughts on scripture etc. I enjoy reading through my old journals to see where I was spiritual, the struggles we were facing and how the Lord has slowly changed me and brought us through those trials. It is a boost to my faith to see what He has done and I can also remind my family of all the times that the Lord has seen us through! Amazing!
Have a blessed day especially if you are starting school back up today - we have a half day...
Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up... 1 Thessalonians 5:11b
Aug. 21, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
Iris at Sting My Heart is focusing on peace today. Everyone longs for peace - peace in their homes and in their countries. As Iris pointed out one definition of peace is: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Another definition, which encompasses the above definition is: Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
I am so thankful for the peace of God. It is more than being free from conflict on the outside...it is true freedom from conflict on the inside. So many times we appear to be cool, calm and collective but inside our emotions and thoughts are raging. I am so thankful that we, as believers, can have shalom even in our inner being. When the storm is raging call on your Prince of Peace and He will quiet you with His peace. Thank you Jesus for that peace...it is a strong testimony of your work in our lives.
I am also thankful for my MIL and her sister. They have offered to take the boys for a day so that I can have some time to myself.
I am thankful that my dh's new job is going well. The Lord has given him peace, wisdom and strength each day.
My prayer for you:
The LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace (shalom). Numbers 6:24-26
Sonshine over at Glimpse of Sonshine presented me with this award - Thank you for your kindness!! It was not easy to choose only 5 blogs for this award because I enjoy reading so encouraging and informative blogs. Blessings to all of you...and keep on writing!!
Now I must:
1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
2. Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.
3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put a name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4. The award winner and presenter should post the link of the �Arte y pico� blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Please post these rules.
I nominate the following blogs for this award(in no particular order!)...
Tiany at Less of Me~More of Him: a beautiful blog plus homeschooling and homemaking resources
Stacy at By God's Grace: love her cute graphics, worship music & her willingness to be real about life and give God the glory
Dee at Boys 'R' Us: fellow homeschool mom of all boys; enjoy reading her humorous posts about life with all boys
Song of the Sagebrush: enjoy her poems & posts about her life on the ranch; brings me back to the simple way of life
Shorty Bear's Place: love to read her Thankful Thursday post; a beautiful heart that loves the Lord
"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You..."Jeremiah 32:17
I am thankful there is nothing to difficult for our God. If He can create the heavens and the earth through His great power then we can be sure He is able to accomplish mighty things in our own lives.
I am thankful for my husband, who has worked tirelessly this week training in his second job and continues to accomplish work in the ministry. I am thankful for his dedication to the Lord and to his family.
I am thankful for my children. They are each a unique gift from the Lord. They may bring challenges into our lives but they are also a huge blessing.
Thank you Iris for hosting the Thankful Thursday meme. If you would like to know more head on over to her blog and check it out. You will not be disappointed.
