The Adventures of OctoberMom - Homeschool Blogger

Contentment

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 18:31:00 -0600

Contentment

"a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter (Rom. 5:2).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary"

The above pretty much says it all. The events of the past several weeks have made me realize more than ever that I am truly content with my station in life, my husband, my children, my family, the craziness of life. I've gotten to watch up close and personal, many folks that are striving to be or to do or to attain a certain thing or a certain status. Discontentment robs and destroys. Contentment, while often illusive, brings joy and peace beyond measure.

My prayer for you all at this most festive time of year, is true contentment that comes from the inside out and permeates your holiday plans, your homes and families and your relationships. May the Spirit of the One we celebrate dwell in your hearts!

Thanksgiving

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:20:00 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday of sorts. I have fabulous memories of Thanksgivings on my uncle's orange grove in Florida when I was very young. Food, family, more food, fun; it was always a great time. Ever since then, Thanksgiving has been special. And it continues to this day. My family loves to have people in, feed them, make memories and traditions. Its a blast!

This year we will be heading to my mother-in-law's for dinner. Our niece is coming up from Georgia and we will be gathering to spend time with her and her son. I'm looking forward to seeing her. Olivia and I have always had a special bond. When I first came into the family, she was five years old. I sat down and she climbed in my lap that very first day. She's been sitting in my lap for the past 25 years!! (Fortunately she's very thin!!) She's had many ups and downs over her life and definitely kept us on our knees, but to me, she'll always be that little girl so willing to accept someone new in the family. We just got the news that she'll be getting married this summer, so a wedding is in the works as well. My prayer is that, even though she got things a bit out of order in her life, that God will use the upcoming wedding to show Olivia just how much He loves her and how there is redemption regardless of how much she chose to run from it in the past.

So, on this Thanksgiving, I have many many things to be thankful for as always. But this year, in particular, I'm thankful for Olivia who is a constant reminder of God's mercy and grace!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Yet Another Birthday Remembrance

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 06:40:00 -0500

November 1st! (Where did October go? Was a very quick and busy month!) At any rate, today begins another month and brings with it the memory of my dear grandmother, Blanche. Today is her birthday, and will be forever remembered as such even though she died a decade ago.

I was one of the truly blessed ones that I not only had awesome grandparents, but I had them well into my thirties! They got to see both of my children. Since I am an only child and an only grandchild, it was very important to me for my grandparents to know my girls. They didn't spend alot of time together because of distance and age, but they knew them; that's what counts.

So today as we begin the countdown to Thanksgiving, I will be thankful for Grandma. For the countless days we sat at the big picture window and identified birds on the feeder. For the many trips through her prize winning yard learning the names of plants, flowers (and weeds). For the many Saturday mornings, I would walk across the road to help her make spinach and celery juice! For her generous spirit that helped me (us) out year after year. For her special way of saying "I love you" ... "aye aye" (no she wasn't in the Navy!) For the many trips to the NC mountains! For being rather persnickety and particular about the strangest things! For taking me to church and letting me visit her in the choir room as she prepared to play the organ year after year. But mostly for just loving my mother and me unconditionally ....

Thank you Grandma and Happy Birthday!!

October 17th, The Day My Life Changed Forever

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:39:00 -0500

The title pretty much says it all. Today, 19 years ago who and what I thought I was changed forever. The life altering event??? Becoming a mother for the first time. I will never quite understand the transformation (something only God can orchestrate I do know). How does one enter a building very, very early in the morning (a hospital in this case) and leave a week later (after a long c-section recovery) looking at the world so much differently? I can't explain the power of motherhood, but I can attest to the fact that it exists. Having spent the last 19 years looking at the world through mother eyes has been the single most amazing happening of my life! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

So as October 17th, 2007 dawns bright and sunny (much as the day did 19 years ago) I awaken with gratitude and thanksgiving to God for allowing me the journey of a lifetime ... motherhood. October 17th, 1988, 7lbs 9oz, 20 inches long, 9:50 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATY!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 06:07:00 -0500

October 8th begins our month of festivities around our house. Both my girls were born in October, my baby in heaven would have been born in October, Katy's best friend is born in October, my neice and great-neice are born in October ... (get the idea why October is my favorite month??) So today ...

Happy Birthday to my baby girl ... Joy!!! (14)
Happy Birthday to my adopted son ... Russ!!! (21)

We had birthday festivities for Russ at his folks' house last night (yummy cake) and tonight we will celebrate Joy's day with a trip to a local pizza place with family and friends (it also happens to be a fundraiser pizza deal for Joy's basketball team, so we're killing two birds as they say). Joy's not a big cake eater, so ice cream is the desert of choice for her. Should be great fun!

Sometime during the day, I'll have my "I can't believe my little girl is almost grown cry" that I have on every birthday. I'll then feel better, thank God for the gifts of my daughters and continue my day with a sense of extreme gratitude for God allowing me to be a part of the lives of these two amazing girls! I don't think I'll ever lose the feeling I had (now 14 years ago) when the doctor told me I had another little girl. I can't describe to you that moment. Words just don't do it justice, but I've lived every day with that joy and amazement. October 8, 1993, 7lbs 11 oz, 20 inches long, 10:01 pm.

Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday ....

Basketballs and Lab Coats

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 16:00:00 -0500

I know, I know... delinquent again on the blogging front. Has been rather busy around here. Not an excuse, just the truth. At any rate, I'll jump right in to all the news.

Joy made the Lighthouse Middle School Girls Basketball team!!!!!! We are thrilled; not so much that she made the team (OK, we're happy about that too), but proud of the fact that she has spent the last year working every day to become a better basketball player. Pushing through several injuries to elbows, wrists, knees, etc., to learn the discipline and fortitude it takes to play any sport. Last year she tried out and didn't make the team. She was disappointed. I wasn't sure how things would progress from there. Much to my delight, she decided she loved basketball and wanted to get better. We bought a hoop for the yard, found an Upward league over the winter and a day camp this summer. But more importantly, my little girl has learned perseverance and patience. I pray that she'll take these basketball lessons into many areas of her life (its hard on a Momma to watch their children be stretched!)

Well the above paragraph explains the basketball part; now the lab coats. And really, its much the same story ... different daughter. Most of you know that my oldest Katy, is a science fanatic (putting it nicely). She's a biology major at our local community college and will be transferring to NC State to finish up her degree. At the beginning of the school year, she applied for various jobs around the community in hospitals, doctors offices, etc., none of which would really work with her class schedule. She qualified for work study through the financial aid office back in August, but we heard nothing the entire month of September. I expected a nibble on something, but the phone didn't ring... until last week. Long story short, my daughter was offered two lab assistant positions in the biotech department and the science department. After meeting with both, they combined the job and offered it to her!! She begins tomorrow!! I couldn't have asked for anything better... on campus (5 minutes from home); right there where she already is; and a maximum of 15 hours per week (paid!) GOD is so good!!!

I continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness to my children. You'd think after 19 years, I wouldn't be so blown away; but I continue to marvel at His plan.

Thank you Jesus for loving my children! (even more than I do).

Theological Worldviews

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:22:00 -0500

We're all about worldviews around here so when Jimmy came up with yet another "find out about yourself quiz" on theological worldviews, I just had to see. I'm proud to announce my Methodist upbringing is in tact!

You scored as a Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

86%

Reformed Evangelical

79%

Emergent/Postmodern

75%

Fundamentalist

71%

Neo orthodox

64%

Classical Liberal

29%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

25%

Modern Liberal

18%

Roman Catholic

Not sure where the Fundamentalist deal came in (maybe I should retake the test!). At any rate, here's the link if you're interested ....
quizfarm.com/test.php

Providence

Fri, 7 Sep 2007 05:30:00 -0500

Today is the first day of Providence. Providence is a tutorial program for homeschoolers that we've been involved with on and off since Katy was in Kindergarten. I'm on the Board of Directors as Registrar and Jimmy starts his second year as the Civics tutor. Joy will be taking Jimmy's class and a creative writing class this year.

This is the closest I get to getting my kids up and off to school. I'm very thankful to Providence and all it offers, but I'm even more thankful for the gift of homeschooling these past 15 years where I haven't had to get my kids up and off to school!

Have a great school day wherever your classroom may be!

Proud Mama

Thu, 6 Sep 2007 08:12:00 -0500

Ya know how when your child does something for the first time it evokes that "mama pride"; and how when they really, really get good at something you check that off the list of things to do with a deep satisfaction.

Today I checked something off Katy's list. MATH! OK, I know she graduated in May, and I know she's in college now, but Math was always a chore for us. I knew she could do algebra, algebra 2, etc. She just didn't know she could. She placed into College Algebra last year and made a B in the class. I was more proud of that B than many many A's.

Today a new milestone. My daughter, who said she hated math for all those years, brought home her first test grade in Pre Calculus ... a 95! All those years, I knew she could ... now she finally knows she can!!

I'm a proud mama today! Not just of the grade, but of the perseverance of my oldest child!!
Katy, I love you!

8th Grade

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:43:00 -0500

Today is the first day of 8th grade for Joy. She's been doing math and reading throughout the summer, but today we begin "officially" the new school year. I still can't believe she's in the 8th grade. She supposed to be my baby and she's almost taller than me. I know there's a rule somewhere that says your kids are not supposed to grow taller than their parents! Katy did well; Joy, not so much. In all seriousness, I'm looking forward to this year as my Joy continues to grow into the awesome young lady God is making her.

Welcome to 8th grade Joy!!