Hello,

I'm back again. I haven't blogged in a while because of trouble with computer, and as usual not enough time.

Thanks to all who commented on my last entry. It was so cool to come back and see that!

Well, this will not cover the issue completely, but I have been thinking about my sons' futere wives lately. Yes, I know they're a little young, still 9 and 7, but I need to be praying for those girls NOW. The thought occurred to me that perhaps their future mothers in law are here blogging already! So here is my question, how do you feel about being a mother in law someday (if you are not one now)? Or even if you are one now, what have your experiences been?

I think about the ways my inlaws have been a blesing to us, helping us through financial  situations when we needed it, and also how they have been like a curse to us in their own ways too. Sometimes it's hard to honor certain people! LOL! My own parents divorced soon after we were married, and my Dad was gone, so my husband only really got to have a mother in law, not a father in law. She then became ill after a few years. He doesn't mind her too much, (same as me). We try to help her out as much as we can.

So when I am a mother in law I hope I will be able to take what I have learned and apply it. I want to be involved but not a burden. A friend and helper. Most of all not a controlling person who knows more than they do and has to prove it. I will not expect my daughter in law to be perfect. I will probably love them and the grandchildren so much that I will have to be careful not to be annoying. It seems like a balance that I will have to work on. I guess, overall, I am still a little nervous about being a mother in law.

How do you feel about it?

Jen

 As you may notice, my blogging name is  servantgirl.

When I was growing up, I was surrounded by princesses. ( And my, there are a lot of them lately!) Little girls who were fed  a steady diet of propaganda, disguised as sweet Disney movies and merchandise, and believed that they were little examples of royalty to be admired and catered to.

At first this sounded like fun. But I soon realized that this was not my lot in life. I was not lovely and graceful. I didn't have an angelic voice that could charm little birdies in the forest. Besides that, I had two princesses for sisters, and they were far more qualified than me. I realized that, contrary to Disney and society, there are other options in life besides that of royal darling. I chose to be the servant girl.

Where there are princesses, there must be servant girls. Ones who serve quietly and contentedly. It was a perfect fit for me. I could stay out of the way and still do some good. And I didn't have  to live with the responsibilities of royalty.

I had found my place.

Until a couple of years ago. One day, while waiting in line at WalMart, I overheard a family in line before me. The little girl, evidently one of the royal variety, was misbehaving. Her mother, the tired old queen, admonished her, "Is that the way a princess should act?"

I smiled knowingly and thought nothing more about it. Until later. I was becoming impatient with something, and a voice inside me said, "Is that the way a princess should act?" What? That's not me, Lord. I'm the servant girl. But then it hit me. Having been saved by Jesus, I am a child of God. A child of the King. A..... Princess?

Wow, I thought. But being this type of princess was different. It meant behaving with kindness and grace. It meant having real true beauty of the heart. I didn't need to charm little birdies with my songs, just make a joyful noise to the Lord. It meant true royalty, behaving in a manner worthy of a representative of the Lord. Amazing. I have found a new occupation.

I am a Princess. 

Today I went to the Christmas party for my women's Bible study group. It was so much fun! I haven't been to a party since, well, last Christmas!

Our hostess set a beautiful table for us and we played some fun games.Of course we also had Bible study lesson. I know, it sounds boring, but I really enjoyed it.

I am a little like Jen Ig, in that I am usually uncomfortable at "women's gatherings". Too many cackling hens that can do nothing but complain and gossip. It makes me feel quite claustrophobic. That has been the case at most groups I have attended in the past. This group, however, has actual real women who want to focus on the Lord. What an idea! Why didn't someone think of this before? And as an added bonus, most of these ladies are around age 60, which is nice for me because I can learn so much from them. I am feeling so very blessed. This is the first time in my life that I have had a group of women to fellowship with. I wish my husband had such an opportunity. That would be so great.

This has been a very bland blog, but I am just so thankful today for my Bible study group that I thought I'd blog about it. Do you have any other women that you study the Bible with?

Jen 

Hi,

Maybe this question has already been raised by someone else here, but I am asking anyway. Who among you includes Santa in your Christmas celebrations and who does not? If you do not, what do you do? Any special traditions you have to make things exciting or meaningful?

I was raised in an athiest/ humanist/ agnostic type of home, and although we still celebrated Christmas, there was no point to it. Well, there was some point when we had Santa to believe in. Once that stage in life was past, we were simply reduced to materialism.

I knew my children would have a hard time with the Santa thing. I could tell at an early age. They would lose their trust in us when they found out it was all an elaborate story. Plus they are the kind that have trouble distinguishing truth from fantasy anyway, I don't want to make that harder for them. Anyhow... We decided that since we try to teach them that God provides all we need and gives us everything we have, all our Christmas gifts are from Him too. Seems to work out fine. But once in a while I feel like maybe they are missing out on some sense of magical... something.  I don't know. What do you do?

Jen

Many thanks to Fay, who replied to my first blog. You are very sweet and thoughtful to do that. I wasn't expecting any replies, not even "pity "ones!

Well here I am again. I suppose it's about time I start actually talking about something. I am a slow typist, so my blogs will probably be short at first.

I started homeschooling for one main reason. It was one that my husband agreed with, so there was no problem there. But, I am embarassed to admit, it had nothing to do with negative influences of public school, religion, principles, or any other noble causes (at least not directly). It was because I HATE school. Yep. Hubby hates it too. I just couldn't send my beautiful sweet boy who was still pure and still loved life, into that torture. Sure, when I was younger, I had some problems that made every aspect of school very difficult. So did my husband. Now that our son was facing school age with the same difficulties I just couldn't do that to him. I believed that school would chew him up and spit him out. I actually have had nightmares that I gave in to pressure from those around me and sent my kids to public school. This is not to say that this institution is that bad for all kids, it certainly is not, and I studied to become a teacher. 

Now that I have come this far, I can see how God's hand was on me, preparing me for this opportunity to teach my children, and to minister to their needs like no one else can. Plus, now I see much more clearly the vision for their future, and the "real" reason for teaching my own: Honoring God. He took my bad experiences and used them for good in the lives of my sons.

Why did you decide to homeschool?

Jen G

Hi,

I am Jen. You don't know me. No one ever does, even though everyone says that I look familiar. In 4 states where I have lived people have mistaken me for someone else they once knew. I'm not sure whether that's good or not, or what?

Anyway, here it is. My first Blog. Cool.

Once I figure this out and get a little more time (ha! like that will ever happen), I will be back. Bye!