Musings In Missouri

• Feb. 10, 2007 - It's Been A While

My goodness! It's been quite a while since I've posted here, and a lot of things have happened since then! I don't know that I could ever catch up, so, I will just share the highlights.

Of course, the holidays came and went. We had a really nice Christmas this year...several of them, in fact.

January brought lots of snow and ice, and, towards the end of the month, my husband, John, had surgery. He almost didn' make it, and it was very scarey for all of us. He's recouperating now, and faces several weeks of recovery time, but, praise the LORD! He's doing well.

My biggest problem right now is, I wan't SPRING to arrive!!! This has been such a long winter!

Well, it was nice visiting with you all, even though it's been a short one. I'll try to remember to post here more often. God bless all here!

~Rebecca

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• Nov. 15, 2006 - MY BIBLE

Posted in General Musings

In Bible Doctrines For Today, Tony and I came across this poem. It reminded me of my own dear Bible, and really touched my heart. In fact, it made me cry.

My own BIble is well worn from use...its pages tattered, torn, and lovingly marked. In actuality, it's only about four years old, but, from constant use, it is falling apart. I still use it on a daily basis, however...sometimes only one section at a time. The Book is, literally, in pieces. I love my Bible. It's words are precious to me!

How blessed we are to be in a country where we're still free enough to own our own copy of God's precious Word, and read it as often as we choose. People in many countries aren't that fortunate.

Now, here's that poem...

MY BIBLE

Though the cover is worn,

And the pages are torn,

And though places bear traces of tears,

Yet more precious than gold

Is the Book worn and old,

That can shatter and scatter my fears.

When I prayerfully look

In the precious old Book,

As my eyes scan the pages I see

Many tokens of love

From the Father above,

Who is nearest and dearest to me.

This old Book is my guide,

'Tis a friend by my side,

It will lighten and brighten my way;

And each promise I find

soothes and gladdens my mind

As I read it and heed it today.

-Author Unknown

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• Nov. 13, 2006 - POLITICS AND RELIGION

Posted in General Musings

Right before the recent mid-term election, I sent out a reminder to all my friends and family members, asking them to get out, let their voices be heard, and vote! I got several e-mails from people, thanking me for taking the time to remind them how important getting out to vote really is. Then, I got an e-mail from one of my aunts, which really saddened me. She thanked me for reminding her to vote, "altho" she "didn't need it", she said, but "most of all", she said, "thank you for not sharing your political views with me." I was floored, and a little hurt.

A couple of days later, after sending out an article of hope and encouragement, despite the darkness going on around us, this same aunt sent me another e-mail, telling me to remove her from my "mind and mailing list when it comes to politics." She said that she enjoys hearing about me and my family, but that we are "not on the same page regarding politics" and she doesn't want me "shoving" my views off on her.

Needless to say, I was really upset! This aunt claims to be a Christian, but then I got to thinking about it. This is the same aunt who, after getting married a few years ago, laughed at me for refusing to look at pictures of her bachlorette party, which featured naked, or nearly-naked, men in them. This is the same aunt who has told my husband and I that we, and our children, are "retarded" because we homeschool and believe the Bible so literally. And this is the same aunt who, after using our bathroom on her last visit, laughed because we had a Bible in there for reading material.

Growing up I used to hear people say things like, "Talk about whatever you like, as long as you don't talk about politics and religion!" I got to thinking about this last night, and I was wondering, "WHY are politics and religion such volatile subjects? And why do people, who are so opinionated, try to avoid them?" This morning, it hit me!

Religion is simply our belief system. Politics are part of our religion. Politics and religion define who we really are. Talking about them reveals what's going on inside of us "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).

Unfortunately, too many people that profess to be Christians today, fit the description of the hypocrite given by Christ in Matthew 15:8, when He said, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

As a Christian we cannot continue to live straddle of the fence, and expect to get by with it forever. It doesn't work that way. There WILL be consequences! God calls His people out. He calls them to be different!

If you claim to be a Christian, yet you're still living life by the world's standards, maybe it's time to get down on your knees and have a good old-fashioned heart-to-heart talk with God. Don't fall for the satanic lies that being a "good person", being a "church goer", or doing "good works" is all that it takes to get you into heaven. It's not!

Far too often we settle for man's word over God's. Get your Bible out (and when I say that, I mean a good old-fashioned version of the Bible...not one that's been tainted by every ungodly twist and turn, idea, and influence imaginable), dust it off, and get into God's Word. Find out what God has to say about what's right and what's wrong. Find out what He expects from His people, and how He expects them to live. Find out where you really stand when it comes to politics and religion. Then, repent of wrong, and do whatever is neccessary to live out the right!

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• Dec. 30, 2005 - New Templates

Posted in General Musings

Thank you to HOMESCHOOLBLOGGER.COM for providing so many beautiful templates for us to choose from. I really like the new ones! I preferred the rooster, but I couldn't get it to load right. Thanks again!

~Rebecca

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• Dec. 30, 2005 - Just A Short Note

Posted in General Musings

Greetings, Dear Friends!

How are you? How was your Christmas? I trust that it was a good one and that the LORD's blessings were abundant in your life and home as we celebrated the birth of His blessed Son, JESUS!

Our Christmas was very good. My mother's in-put and presence, obviously, were missed, but the three new babies made the holiday an absolute joy! In truth, we had one of the best Christmas's ever! God's blessings abounded on every front...even in the tiniest things.

How are you and your family spending and enjoying this week after Christmas? The final week of 2005! Are you ready to begin a brand new year...full of hope and promise? I sure am!

This week for us has been fairly quite for the most part. Tony has been enjoying playing with his new Christmas stash, Amanda has spent quite a bit of time with friends this week, and John and I have been getting some things done around the place while the weather is nice. He is in the midst of putting up our solar heater; I have been busy taking down the Christmas decorations and getting the house back in order.

My vacuum cleaner died. I had to go to Home Depot Tuesday evening and get a new one. Boy! Is it nice! My old one was making so much noise that it was almost unbearable. To be honest I'm glad that it finally gave up and quit. The new one is much quieter and much more friendly to deal with. :)

John and I have talked about trimming our house in those curtain lights ever since they first came out (they are SO pretty), but we've never been able to afford them. While shopping at Home Depot, I found curtain lights marked down to $1.21 per box and regular strands of 100 Christmas lights marked down to 40 cents per box. I couldn't help myself! I stocked up. Perhaps, next year, LORD willing that we're still here, of course, we can start turning our house into that lovely little gingerbread house that we've always dreamed of having at Christmas time.

The LORD has given us the opportunity to serve two unexpected guests this week. One of my cousins from back home came down to visit my dad on Monday. He went up town to get some breakfast and found that the restaurant was closed for the holidays. He came here to say "Hello!" and find out where the closest place to eat was. I told him, "You're standing in it! What would you like?" LOL! He said that he had a hankerin' for sausage, eggs, and toast. Normally, I don't have sausage on hand, but a dear friend had blessed our family with a package of meat from the hog they had butchered for Christmas, and guess what??? There was sausage in there! And, thanks to the next-door-neighbors, there's always plenty of eggs. (They're chicken farmers.) So, needless to say, I whipped up a farm fresh platter of sausage, eggs, and toast and my cousin left a very happy man.

On Tuesday, a friend of ours, originally from Mexico, that lives and works in Lamar came by in the afternoon. He speaks very little English and we speak very little Spanish, but we get along good enough just the same. He came by and had lunch with us...which was wonderful! Normally, it is he who serves us; yesterday we got to serve him. It was as much a blessing to us as it was him. :)

What do your hopes, dreams, and goals for the New Year include? Ours include moving closer to the LORD and each other as a family through the careful study of God's Word, and to further His kingdom through continued ministry in whatever way He leads. One of the things that we plan on instituting in our home in 2006 is the Shabbat Meal. We first heard of the idea through ABOVE RUBIES magazine. Colin and Nancy Campbell have practiced it for years. Not that they (or we) are Jewish, or are trying to be Jewish, in any way. They are in no way legalistic about it or anything like that...nor would we be. It's just a special way to create a special time of family togetherness where love around the family table abounds as each member is built up and encouraged by the others. For more information you can read a couple of the articles that we read by Nancy Campbell. They explain The Day Of Preparation, The Shabbat Meal, and what they're all about in much more detail. To get there, go to: www.aboverubies.org . Then go to: ARTICLES AND STORIES. Then to: ARTICLES BY NANCY CAMPBELL. The Day of Preparation and The Shabbat Meal are the top two stories listed there. Does anyone else out there celebrate Shabbat? If so, I'd love to hear of your experiences and how you and your family do so.

I have a prayer request. It is for a friend of ours. Her name is Melissa. We got word this week that she had she and her husband's seventh child the end of November. At the beginning of December Melissa was diagnosed with an inoperable, cancerous, brain tumor. Please stand with us in prayer on behalf of Melissa, her loving husband, Curtis, and their precious family...six daughters and one, brand new, beautiful, bouncing, baby boy. Thank you all so much! We're believing for a miracle in this situation.

Well, I need to be going for now. I just wanted to drop in while I had a moment and touch base with you all before the year was out. I greatly look forward to getting together with you all in 2006 and I pray a prayer of blessing over you, your family, and your home as we move forward into the New Year. God bless all here!

Love and ((((Hugs)))),

~Rebecca

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• Nov. 29, 2005 - Our Life Is But A Vapor

Posted in General Musings

You know, I've done a lot of thinking since my mother passed away. Where has time gone? I am 44-years-old; John will be 52 in December. We've only been together as a couple for 18 years, but we have known each other and been friends since I was 5-years-old. That's going on 40 years now! I looked at John the other night and thought, "Oh my goodness! He's only 8 years away from 60!" In another 18 years he'll be 70 and I'll be 62...provided the Rapture hasn't happened and we're both still here, of course. I began to think about how quickly time, truly, does pass, and about how much time I've wasted on stupid, STUPID things that don't even matter. Time is short, my friends! James 4:14 tells us that our lives are like "...a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, then vanisheth away." When you consider the expanse of eternity, our lifetime is nothing. How we spend our time on this earth matters. Those few and fleeting years come with eternal consequences.

This year I have determined to keep our Christmas season homey, warm, and merry by purposely creating fun and loving memories for the whole family. I plan to start this process by conducting my friend, Catherine's, "plate clearing experiment."

( You can read about that here:

http://www.xanga.com/item.aspxtab=weblogs&user=MrsCatherine&uid=247407308 )

I am purposely clearing my plate of anything that doesn't prioritize the four most important aspects of Biblical womanhood during the month of December and I plan to protect and cherish them (with the Lord's help, of course) with everything that is in me. I hope to continue this focus on into the New Year and repeat the exercise, as necessary, probably on a monthly basis. I need to further refine my prioritization skills and this seems like a good way to do it. (Thanks, Cat! :)

Love and Hugs,

~Rebecca

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• Nov. 22, 2005 - Thoughts Of Thanksgiving

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This morning, as my thoughts turn toward the upcoming holiday, I think...we should be thankful everyday...but what am I most thankful for this Thanksgiving season?

I am most thankful for God's mercy and grace in my life...His amazing love...and the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Other things that I am extremely thankful for this year are...my husband, our children and grandchildren. the fact that the grandbabies all arrived safely and are healthy, that my mother, even though she's gone now, didn't suffer with disabling sickness and pain for a long period of time before her death, for the relationship that my dad and I are building, for the fact that our home, no matter how small and dumpy it might seem to others, is paid off and is ours, that our van is paid off, for the Lord's continued and abundant provision, for Christian family and friends, for the freedom to worship God freely and read His Word without threat to life and limb, and for the freedom to homeschool our children. God is so good to us! Praise be unto Him...today and every day!

What are you most thankful for this holiday season? Please, feel free to express your own Thanksgiving thoughts as we celebrate this season together in spirit. God bless all here!

~Rebecca

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• Oct. 31, 2005 - The Real Halloween

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I keep getting cute little e-mails from Christian sources all over the place that try to convince me that Halloween is a "Christian" holiday and that it's okay to practice it...as long as we keep it within the "right" perspective and spirit. I'm sorry, but nothing could be further from the truth! Halloween was NEVER a "Christian" holiday!

CELTIC NEW YEAR

October 31 is the most important day in the satanic year. It marks the Celtic new year, and is always at the end of the growing season, thus it became the "Festival of Death." On this day, the god of the Celts was to have called up the spirits of the wicked dead who had died during the past year. At the same time, other evil spirits arose and went about the countryside harassing the people. On October 31, the Celts expected to be harassed by ghosts, evil spirits, and demons; and it was no fun and games to them! They would light bonfires to guide the spirits to their own town and to ward off evil spirits.

THE DRUIDS

The Celts had satanic priests called Druids. On October 31, the Druids went from house to house demanding certain foods, and all those who refused were cursed. The people were tormented by means of magic. As they went, the Druids carried large turnips which they had hollowed out and carved in demon faces as charms. Each one was believed to contain the demon spirit that personally led or guided that priest - his little god. Costumes were worn at times to hide the identity of the Druid as he would threaten people with curses if they did not comply with the food he demanded.

DIVINATION
Those who practiced fortune telling and divination found that this was the night that they had the most success. They called upon satan to bless their efforts. One form of divination was to put apples in a tub and bob for them. The one who first successfully came up with an apple without putting it in his teeth was to have good luck throughout the year. They would then peel the apple and throw the peeling over their shoulder and quickly look around. They expected to see a vision or an apparition of the one they were to marry.

SACRIFICES

These things happened several centuries before Christ. Sacrifices were made to the gods, especially the god of death: Sam Hain (pronounced Sah - win). Sacrifices all the way from vegetable to human were offered.This went on and on and in some parts of the world and still go on today.

THE 8TH CENTURY

In the eighth century, the Pope, in an effort to get the people to quit the festival of Sam Hain, invented All Saints Day (Nov. 1). This was an attempt to get the people to turn away from the horrible observance of Sam Hain. All Saints Day was intended to honor the martyrs of the Roman persecution. It didn't work. It never works to Christianize a pagan holiday. The holy and the profane don't mix!!

THE MIDDLE AGES

In the middle ages there was a great revival of satanic practices, witchcraft, and magic - like there is today. During this time, the belief developed that witches traveled on broomsticks to the black sabbaths (witchs' celebration held every October 31) to worship satan. They were guided by spirits in the form of black cats. The Druids worshipped cats
believing them to be reincarnated evil people.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT

This festival of death has survived all of the efforts of the Church to stamp it out.The Church is joining the opposition by celebrating this festival.The devil has been very successful in invading Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, providing counterfeits for the real thing. Halloween is different. It has always been satanic in nature. Satan has deluded the Christians into celebrating his festival. All Saints Day became All
Hallows Day and came to be called in the western world All Hallows
Eve, and then All Hallows Een. Finally, the word was reduced to the way we have it today, Halloween. That's where the name came from, and even if it is called All Hallows Evening it has nothing to do with the Christian faith and it never did! The bottom line is this: Halloween has been so deluted that many parents don't even realize all the symbolism there is in trick or treating, wearing of costumes, decorating with jack-o'-
lanterns, and all the rest that goes with this evil holiday. October 31 is the night that satanists and occultists the world around look forward to for giving the most honor to satan and praying to him intensely for the fall of the Church of Jesus Christ and the destruction of families. It is the night of the human sacrifice to satan. It is the biggest day in the life of a satanist. It is not an innocent holiday!!

MODERN HALLOWEEN

Now let's look at the present day celebration of Halloween. Isn't the whole theme one of darkness, death, fear, threats, destruction and evil? There are witches, broomsticks, bats, owls, ghosts, skeletons, death, and monsters. We dress our children as demons, witches, ghouls, monsters and werewolves and send them out into the streets in the dark to reenact
the Druids' practice of demanding food from people under the threat of tricks (or curses) if they don't comply. We take, not a turnip, but a pumpkin, and carve demon faces in it and decorate with it. At Halloween there will be apple bobbing, divination, fortune telling, haunted houses, candles lit, and spirits called up. There will be seances and ouiji
boards...all in the name of fun! There will be sacrifices of dogs, cats, rats, chickens, goats, and even humans! You say, "Oh! But we don't take it seriously!" No...but the devil does..........and so does God! Particularly this is true when the church which He purchased with His blood builds haunted houses in its fellowship halls so that the little lambs who have been entrusted to its care can be terrified and opened up to invading spirits of fear, torment, and confusion. HOW THIS MUST GRIEVE THE LORD! Halloween has never been a Christian holiday and it has no place in the life of a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. In fact it is an abomination to God and we should take our stand firmly against it and all it entails. As we look into its history, we find that its roots go deep into heathenism, paganism, Satanism, and the occult; and the modern expression is no better!

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Hosea 4:6
Ezekiel 44:23
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
James 1:27
2 Corinthians 6:14
Philippians 4:8
Deuteronomy 7:25-26
1 Thessaloians 5:21-23
1 Corinthians 10:19-23

OTHER SOURCES
American Encyclopedia
Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia
Student's Encyclopedia
The Standard Reference Work
Collier's Encyclopedia
Illustrated World Encyclopedia
The Columbia Encyclopedia
World Book Encyclopedia

MAJOR SOURCE
Message by Tom McKenny entitled, "Festival of Death"
Submitted by Terry Richardson

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• Oct. 25, 2005 - On My Mind This Morning - 10/25/05

Posted in General Musings

I am very disturbed at some of the things that I have seen and come into contact with lately.

While in Independence, Kansas last Thursday a friend of mine and I encountered a thing called "Neewollah" (Halloween spelled backwards). The locals tried to pass it off as just "...a cute, little, kiddie celebration of Halloween." Yet, there wasn't a "cute, little" ghost, scarecrow, or goblin to be seen. Nearly every storefront window, sidewalk display, etc. featured black, cloak-clad witches and everywhere we looked there were big, black and orange, flapping banners strung across the street with witches on them. A huge sign across the road from where we ate lunch proclaimed Independence, Kansas "Nee Headquarters." What's up with that? Overly superstitious? Looking for something that isn't there? Maybe. Maybe not.

Between Bible study last Wednesday night in which we covered Deuteronomy 18 (note verses 9 to 14 particularly), and a conversation with a friend of mine over movies yesterday, I was thinking...we all (at least most of the people I know) tend to dabble in the things of darkness "just a little bit" and never think twice about it. Oh...we might get that check in our spirit...that little red flag...that still, small voice that gently reminds us of who we are and that we have no business engaging in whatever it is that we're about to do, but, all to often, we just ignore it, make our excuses under our breath, and go right on and do or watch whatever it is that we're about to do or watch.

For example, we (meaning my husband and I...as well as many others that we know) rule Harry Potter out completely (Come on! Those movies are all about wizards and spells and conjuring ups...right???), but then we embrace Gandolf! (Hmmm...isn't he a wizard...crystal ball and all?) There's something wrong with this picture!

Oh! And we know all the excuses. You know..."Tolkien was a friend of C.S. Lewis's."..."He was a Christian."..."We can see all of the spiritual implications that he tried to write into everything." We use these excuses (right along with everyone else) to justify our watching and embracing. Is it wrong? Am I making too big a deal out of it? Hmmmm.... I wonder.

This morning I get an e-mail from Crosswalk's Home School Life...one of the leading Christian homeschool websites...and this gal is singing the praises of how..."after some research"...she has concluded that Halloween is a "Christian" holiday after all and it's okay for Christians to participate and have fun with it...as long as they do it "in keeping with the faith."

Come on! Get real! What about the following Biblical admonitions????

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22- (prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from all appearance of evil)

James 1:27- (keep oneself unspotted from the world)

3 John 11- (follow not that which is evil)

Romans 12:9- (abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good)

Deuteronomy 18:9-14- (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)

Ephesians 5:11-12- (have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness; live as children of light)

1 Timothy 4:1- (don't follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons)

1 Corinthians 10:21- (which proclaims "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.")

1 Corinthians 10:31- (whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God)

James 4:7-8- (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)

Ezekiel 44:23- ("...teach my people... to distinguish between the unclean and the clean")

Proverbs 22:6- ("train a child in the way he should go")

Matthew 18:6- ("if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin...")

Hosea 4:6- ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.")

John 3:19-20- (people love darkness instead of light)

Romans 13:12- ("put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.")

Ephesians 6:11-18- ("take your stand against the devil's schemes.")

Do we really have to wonder how God views our dabbling into the things of darkness? The things of the occult? I think the answer is quite clear considering the fact that that His Word is His will.

The real question is...when will we (as Christians and individuals) take a stand against the things of darkness, stop our dabblings in the things of darkness, and glorify Christ in EVERYTHING that we do?

For further study on this subject, here's a site that I found this morning. I haven't gone through the whole site yet, but from what I have read so far, they've got some good, Biblical information:

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/halloween.html

~Rebecca

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• Oct. 11, 2005 - It's Been A While

Posted in General Musings

Is it just me? Or does LIFE just keep on happening?

It's been quite a while since I've had a chance to just sit down and share. Here's some of what's been going on in our lives lately:

On Friday, a friend of mine and I took our children on a field trip to Burr Oak Woods Nature Center back home in Blue Springs, Missouri. It was a little cool in the morning, but it warmed up nicely and we had a great time!

We went through the nature center, took the 1/2 mile trail behind the building, did bark rubbings, then went to have lunch with an old friend of mine. After lunch we went back to Burr Oak and walked the 1.3 mile Bethany Falls Trail. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL...all in autumn splendor!!! The children really enjoyed studying things along the trail.

After that, we went to see if the monarchs were hanging in the trees at the Blue
Springs Park. Years ago, when the older children were little, I used to take them there in the fall. Blue Springs sits right in the middle of the monarch's fly zone as they make their annual migration to Capistrano and they used to gather in the trees there in the evening by the millions. We didn't see any this trip. I don't know if we were too early, too late, or what, but I was sure hoping that they would be there.

After that, we went out to Lake Jacomo and sat on the dock at Sailboat Cove. It was so beautiful...so peaceful...and right at sunset! After that...we headed HOME! It was a long day and we didn't get home until very late.

Saturday was spent cleaning house, doing laundry, and getting ready for our missionaries from Guatemala who joined us on Sunday. We had a wonderful day...good preaching, good fellowship, and good food. We were able to give our
missionaries the largest offering to date. The only problem was...their visit was all too short! They're going back to Guatemala on November 17th, but will return to the U.S. for a short visit in February or March. We hope to get together with
them again then.

Now, that was our weekend. It was a good one and our week pales in comparison. The most exciting thing that's happened so far is that one of our daughter-in-law's cows calved...giving her a beautiful little white-faced, white-socked, and white-tipped-tail heifer. She's so proud! The calf really is one of the prettiest we've ever seen!

So...that's our update. I pray that all is well with you and yours. I really do hope to check in on a more regular basis and share. God bless all here!

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 27, 2005 - Saturday Afternoon

Posted in General Musings

My! What a busy week it has been! It seems like forever since I have been here!

Our daughter, Amber, and her family, are in the process of moving to Liberal (the same town that we live in). On Monday a couple of friends of mine helped us move a load of stuff up. As of day after tomorrow, Patrick, Amber, and Audrey will be fully moved in and our son, Zach, and his family plan on being here in September. It will be nice to have all of the children and their families near by.

Tuesday was spent doing housework, running errands, and visiting with our newest granddaughter, Lizzy, at home. That evening I hosted a Home and Garden party. I didn't do as well as would like to have, but I'm not closing until next Tuesday. I try to have two or three parties a year to keep myself stocked in free candles. They're the best!

Wednesday I did some deep-cleaning. That night we had Bible study.

Thursday my friend, Carla, came over. We visited, ran some errands, had lunch together, and made jelly. Thursday evening I went over to my neighbor's and watched part of "Pride and Predujice." Unfortunately, we didn't have time to watch it all. It's one of my favorite movies!

Yesterday we went home (the Kansas City Metro area) to visit my mother-in-law and celebrate her 90th birthday. Our oldest son, Rudy, his wife, Angie, our granddaughter, Heather, and my dad went along, too. We visited at the house for awhile, then took my mother-in-law to KFC for lunch. We had a good visit, but it's so frustrating knowing what to do with her. She's sharp as tack and in excellent health. She obviously can take care of herself, but she needs help. What do you do when they don't want help and won't accept it? This is another area to pray over.

Now, today, I'm just relaxing...catching up on e-mail, blogging, having a cup of tea, and spending a little unwind time. It's WONDERFUL!

I suppose that I should be going though. I need to straighten house and make some plans for next week. We haven't even been able to establish a regular school schedule this year yet. Since my mother died our whole exsistance has been turned upside down. We've spent a lot of time taking care of my dad and his business, being at the hospital getting the babies here, helping the new parents settle in, and things like that, but everything else has kind of taken a back seat and fallen along the wayside. I sometimes wonder...will anything ever be "normal" again? I know that it will always be different.

Anyway, it was good to sit down and visit with you all again. Have a wonderful weekend! God bless all here!

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 18, 2005 - Life Goes On

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Another miracle has occurred...the third such in our family since my mother's passing in June.

Our newest granddaughter, Elizabeth Brianne, arrived at 5:55 p.m. last night (August 17th). She weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz and is absolutely BEAUTIFUL...just like our two other granddaughters that have been born within the past 6 weeks!

Isn't it amazing? Just like the winter turns into spring each year...one life lived ends...and new life begins...over and over again...in triplicate for us!

Please join us as we rejoice over the birth of our latest granddaughter and, please, join us in prayer. Lizzy swallowed some fluid at birth and is having a few problems. The doctors have her on an IV and antibiotics. We know that the Lord's hand is over all.

God bless you all!

Love and Hugs,

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 10, 2005 - Tea Time Thoughts

Posted in General Musings

As I sit here this afternoon with a cup of hot tea and a bowl of fresh raspberries, I'm feeling quite tired and very discouraged. I was feeling so anyway, to some degree, but since my mother's passing, and with the added responsibilities of taking care of things for my dad, the feelings of inadicquancy have seemed to loom like a spector before me on every front. I'm not complaining. I just don't know what to do. I mean...I know what I need to be doing in some areas, but I can't seem to get motivated to do them. In other areas, I have no clue as to how to proceed and go on from here. And I've got so many things on my heart and mind that I'd like to share, but I can't seem to gather them into coherant thoughts and formulate them into words and get them to come out right. It's like I'm all frozen up inside or something. Has anyone else ever gone through this? Do you ever feel like there's this other person inside of you...fighting to get out...but it's just not happening? I dream of simpler times...better times...when all was right within our family's bounds and all was well. I don't mean to sound discontent. I know that the Lord has everything under control and we're right where He wants us to be at this moment, but oh! How I long for a reprieve! My soul is parched and I am thristy. If you read this today, please, pray for me. Thank you! And God bless you!

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 7, 2005 - Getting Ready For A New Week

Posted in General Musings

It's Sunday evening and, here I am, getting ready for a new week. As I think over the new school year, I can't decide...do I do the same ol' thing? Or do I reach out, expand, and really make learning FUN??? Our son isn't getting any younger...and neither am I! I think I'll do a little of both.

Homeschooling our youngest has sure been different from what we did with the older ones. We were much younger then, much stricter then, and we didn't know what we were doing at all. So, we did the only thing that we knew to do...we homeschooled them...public school style. Now...we're much more relaxed. Too relaxed, I think. I can't help but wonder if we're headed in the right direction. Sometimes I really do think that we did a much better job with the older ones.

But we're in a whole different place and time now! NOTHING in our lives now resembles what it was like back in the early days. I suppose the only thing that we can do is do what we've always done...put God first, do what we feel that He is leading US to do, and let Him make up the difference where we fall short. He's never failed us yet.

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 4, 2005 - "PRETTY IS AS PRETTY DOES"

Posted in General Musings

I shared this recently on my Proverbs 31 Woman's group and thought that I'd share it, here, too. Perhaps my experiences and thoughts might be of use to someone else:

<<<

I've battled depression, off and on, for several years now, but it's been really bad the last year or two. I've known for a long time that a lot of my problem was simply my age, but I didn't know what to do about it and, recently, with all this with Mom's death and all it's been really bad and there were times that I didn't think that I would make it.

Well, I got my Summer 2005 issue of CROWNED WITH SILVER recently and there was an article in there..."DEPRESSION...OR JUST HORMONAL"...and it was from this gal that had run the gamut of depression and all the world's cures...anti-depressants that didn't work or the kind that simply made things worse, etc...and, finally, at the last moment...her doctor had tried everything...a pharmacist stepped in and handed her a bottle of natural progesterone cream...telling her that it was probably all she needed. It worked! She got off all the pills and the cream alone leveled everything out for her.

I've heard of this for a long time, but just couldn't see how it could work. The morning after I read that article I called a friend of mine who is very into natural living and I asked her..."What do you do when you feel this way?" She said that she had used the cream and an herb called Vitex for years and she didn't have those problems anymore. My husband investigated both things and found that the Vitex is a natural herb that is grown in Israel and is known to help, virtually, every female symptom of PMS and pre-menopause known to woman. Middle-Eastern women have used it for millenniums.

Anyway, I went to whole foods store and got both the cream and the Vitex and started using them...it will be two weeks come Friday...and I have seen a world of difference already! I can't believe it! All this stuff does is NATURALLY balance out the hormone levels and the severe ups and downs have stopped. It's amazing! Anyway, I'm feeling so much better. I would never have believed it until I got desperate enough to try it. Praise God for providing natural ways to help us without a lot of expense!

Also, recently, twice in one day I heard an old, old saying that I haven't heard, I don't think, since I was a very young girl and read in an Emily Post etiquette book...

"PRETTY IS AS PRETTY DOES."

I've never felt pretty and I don't have an over abundance of pretty things, but I do love pretty things...pretty tea pots and teacups, pretty papers, cards, and stationeries, flowers, lacey things...you know...but I got to thinking..."Pretty IS...as pretty DOES." It's the things that we DO that makes us, either, pretty or not...and I got to thinking...I've not been too pretty lately...inside or out. I've been down, depressed, whiney, gripey. I hate the way I've been. In my quiet time with the Lord yesterday, the Lord backed up that saying in His Word. One of the places He showed me, again, was Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST,whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are OF GOOD REPORT; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS."

What we think on...focus on...concentrate on...DWELL ON...THAT is what comes up and out of us. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh (see Luke 6:45).

Anyway, my prayer is that the Lord would help me to change my focus...to stop being so negative and to be pretty inside AND out, as much as is possible because "pretty is as pretty does" and I want to be pretty when I represent my Lord and when He looks upon my heart...which is ALL THE TIME.>>>>

~Rebecca

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• Aug. 3, 2005 - After All...It Is Another Day!

Posted in General Musings

Indeed, it definately IS another day here in small town Missouri! Here lately one day runs into another so quickly that I hardly know where the time has gone!

Today was our youngest son's10th birthday. Isn't it wonderful how one generation blends in with another when given the chance? I was thinking about that when I was sitting there with my dad, my husband, and my youngest son over lunch at KFC this afternoon. How rich we are when one generation takes the time to share and spend time with those of other generations...when the older generations pass on their wisdom and rich heritage to the younger generations and the younger generations share their hopes, dreams, and aspirations with those that that may have been somewhat hardened by the realities of life lived long and hard. I'm so proud of my family! We're certainly not rich by the world's standard, but, my! How rich we are in love for one another! God has truly blessed us!

Have you heard about Mars? I just heard that Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. According the information that I received, Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10:00 p.m. and by the end of the month, when the two planets are the closest, Mars will rise at nightfall. The encounter is supposed to culminate on the 27th of August and Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Can you imagine such a thing? I'm really looking forward to seeing this. It will go right along with our Exploring Creation With Science studies! Isn't God's creation AMAZING???

Well, it's time to get off of here and get ready for bed. Perhaps I'll share more tomorrow. Good-night!

~Rebecca

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• Jul. 30, 2005 - My First Attempt At Blogging

Posted in General Musings

Well, this is it! My first attempt at blogging! I have so many things on my heart and mind that I'd like to share. Now, if I can just find the time to do so and put it all into adiquate words. Please bear with me. This past month has been very up and down for me. My mother passed away the 26th of June and we've had three babies born since then...one cousin and two granddaughters; we have another granddaughter due in just a few days. Needless to say, our schedule has been a bit topsy-turvey as of late and our homeschooling efforts have suffered considerably. I rest assured, however, that the Lord is in control and that, soon, we'll be back on track and ready to go!

Until Next Time...

~Rebecca

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About Me

My name is Rebecca. I'm a wife, homeschooling mom, homemaker, and grandma. My husband, John, and I are in our 18th year of homeschooling. My hope is that this site will cover a little bit of everything...homeschooling, homemaking, gardening, cooking, grandbabies, thoughts, ideas...whatever. I see each day as an adventure and I look forward to sharing those adventures with YOU!

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