He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. Psalm 91:1-4 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:16:00 -0500 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:16:00 -0500   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604742/ Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604742/ Levi is my firstborn and only son. I can't imagine life without him. He has changed me forever. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a Mom, but I had no idea what I was in for when God gave me my four amazing children. I'm so thankful He gave me Levi first. He definitely prepared the way for his sisters to follow. Levi was born alert and ready to go. He never slept and was always moving. He took steps at 7 months and was walking by 9 months. Our house became a whirlwind of activity very quickly! I absolutely loved having my little boy. I loved the way he took on life and made everything into an adventure. As Levi has grown, he has developed a more mellow side to him. He isn't quite as crazy as when he was little, but is still full of life! He makes me laugh everyday. I know he will be embarrassed that I write this, but he is a very sweet, sensitive person. His heart is very tender. He the first person who wants to help someone who needs help. Levi can also be very focused! When he gets his mind set on something he can be very determined.  Most the time, however, he is pretty easy-going. He rolls with life very well. He's had to with 3 sisters and 1 mom in the home with him everyday! He's a very patient person. Levi has a very special place in my heart and in our home.  He brings to our family laughter and peace. I'm so amazed and proud of the young man he has become.  I know God has special plans for my boy and I'm looking forward to seeing them unfold.  TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT LEVI: 1. His loyality to God and serving Him. 2. His sense of humor. 3. The way he eats cereal without milk, but loves milk. 4. They way he loves and accepts so many people.  He always sees the good. 5. His love for animals and the elderly. 6. The way he still likes to sit next to me and snuggle. 7. The way he loves his sisters.  (Even the one that's a little challenging for him). 8. His excitement over weapons! 9. That he'll admit when he is wrong without a fight. 10. He'll speak the truth to me.       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604624/ Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604624/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604618/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/604618/ This Summer we beat boredom by doing some crafts and projects.  We got this book at the Library, and it has lots of cool recipes for making things.  The girls made "guk", which is really cool stuff.  They also made designs with beads that you iron together.  We painted rocks, and Levi and Abby made a cool Lego faris wheel.  The best part of Summer was having the St. John's come visit and having Levi and Lydia go back to Washington with them.  There are pictures in the slide show of them.  It's been a nice, calm Summer.  We've swam, read, took naps, made things, and have done a few projects around the house.  I love Summer.  Oh yes, and we watched a lot baseball!!!!!!             http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565357/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565357/   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565342/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:43:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565342/   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565340/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565340/   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565338/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/565338/ There is a passage that really jumped out at me the other day.  It said, "God doesn't count us; He calls us by name."  He is a personal, Heavenly Father that speaks to me.  He calls my name and leads me to Him.   I'm safe with my Father.  I belong to Him. He hasn't left me to figure things out for myself.  He is calling me and leading me.  Am I listening?  Am I believing?  Am I obeying? Do I trust His voice?  The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it." Also, Hosea put it well: I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I'll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, "You're nobody!" they're calling you "God's living children." I am His child.  This is home!  Please listen to the Switchfoot song on the side.  This song is so special to me.  I love it.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/561448/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/561448/ I can't stop asking God, "What do you want me to do?"  Why can't I just be?  I grab and hang on to control to only find myself out of control.  Why do I need control?  Why does control make me feel so good and secure?  Is that bad or good? Order is so important to me.  It's like I can't function unless everything is in order.  Since it's almost impossible to keep 4 big kids, 1 dog, 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 husband in order, I spend lots of time feeling out of control. Again, I'm trying to do instead of just be. Be in His presence. Be in His love. Be in His grace. Be in His joy. Be in His peace. I need to let what God has already deposited inside of me, radiate out. I need to stop trying to control everything around me and drink in who these wonderful people are. Love them right here, right now, exactly where they are. My flesh says~Anna is messy, Lydia is bossy, Levi is lazy, Abby is withdrawn.  But my spirit says~Anna is creative, Lydia is a leader, Levi is easy-going, Abby is peaceful. I don't need to make them do, but let them be who God is making them into. I'm not in control, but God is.  He does a way better job than me.  Can I trust Him? Will I trust Him? I don't want to miss who they are. I don't want to miss out on who I am and who Lewis and I are together.  I want to abide in Him. When I abide in Him the fruit is plentiful.  I can't work my way to it, but just abide and be in His love and fruit will come.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/525793/ Thu, 1 May 2008 20:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/525793/ We love our animals and they are a big part of our life.  Here are some picturs of them.  My kids love them all very much and spends lots and lots of time spoiling all of them.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/519881/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/steelerlover/519881/