Ah....DS's newfound love is playing Uno.  We play and play and play.  It has been incentive for him to get chores completed quickly and get a quick game in before we start school!  *grin*  We have started a challenge that really began when we sat down one rainy day last week to play and I said, "Hey, best two out of three.  Waddaya say?"  It has turned into DS 16 games to my 4.  In the name of all things sane and real how can my son be beating the socks off of me in Uno of all things?!?!? 

So the saga continues.  I am working on coming back from behind in a stealth attack he'll never see coming.....I think.

Here is yet another reason in my already full bag "of reasons we homeschool" bag.

Politics aside this is actually scary to think about.  We should sing praises to our Lord and the God of the universe not a man or any men.  Sigh....

Hi everyone.

As usual life got busy, the Army moved us again and I stopped posting.  Honestly I thought about giving up the blog but I do love to write and I was missing all my bloggy-buddies.  So quick update...Well, I hope it is quick.

We moved...again...But it is all good.  DH was promoted and that caused a move.  Yay honey!  So proud of you!  You rock!

We miss our house but have found a great old house to rent where we moved to.  We can't get our other house sold and can't find renters either.  Home ownership at its finest!    As I was saying we have rented an older home and are loving it.  I am almost out from under boxes and almost ready to start school back.  Loving the older house even with all its creaks and groans and other idiosyncrasies.

This schoolyear brings some exciting changes for us.  If you have read my blog for any time you know my heart and our goals for DS have been following the Lord's leading and truly teaching to his heart not just to the world's standards.  That being said we have used an eclectic approach in the past as we sought the Lord's leading each year.  This past year I really sensed the Holy Spirit beginning something quite different for us.  The culmination of it is that we are beginning ATI this year.  If you are familiar at all with the Duggar family you will recognize ATI. 

This is the beginning of an exciting journey for us.  We had to dispel some of the myths of ATI from our minds and embrace what the Lord was calling us to not just for school but for our family.  We have begun the Basic Seminar tapes from Bill Gothard and are finding the Lord's conviction and healing in our lives.  What an exciting time.

DH is also working on his doctorate in counseling and has begun using some of the precepts from IBLP (Institute in Basic Life Principles) and see them work consistently.  Applying the principles in daily life has been quite rewarding and fulfilling.  Even if you don't do ATI taking these seminars will revolutionize your walk.

Well I said this would be quick so I will stop there.  Hoping for some pictures soon.  As soon as I find the USB cable for the camera.....And making sure DS doesn't have any more of his silly pictures on it waiting to surprise me.  Looking forward to another year with DS and the Lord!

H.O.M.E

Isaiah 32:18, “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

Some time back I read something that caught my eye.  However on this occasion I was drawn to one word in particular, “home.”  And this time home was written as an acronym. 

Honor the Lord
Obey His Word
Minister to one another
Establish walls of truth

Thinking on these words I realized that home means so much more than a building where you reside with other people that happen to be related to you.  It is more than a place where you eat and sleep and ‘hang out’ together.  After reading it I also had the desire to work to make my home all it could be.  Like the Army recruiting slogan from a few years back said, “Be all you can be.”  No matter what is going on in your life, what background you have, or what problems you have or had with a little effort and a lot of prayer you can have a home where these four things abide.

Honor the Lord– Honor the Lord with all our hearts.  When we honor Him it shows throughout our home and outside our home.  We can’t just talk the talk. The honor must come from down deep in our hearts and souls, and then and only then will we be changed and the difference noticed by our family. 

Obey His Word– Obedience to God’s Word.  Being submissive to and respecting our husbands, loving our children more than ourselves, sacrificing our desires and wills by putting those in our family first will show God’s love in a tangible way that will impact their lives more than any planned lesson will.  Yes we need to seek out those teachable moments but more of what our family feels and sees and learns comes through how we live our lives. 

Minister to one another– Ministry is important but we should never seek to minister  outside our homes before ministering to our own family first.  We are the hearts of our homes.  Our desire should be to our home and family first.  Ministering to the needs of your family first before looking for outside ministry is more needful though if we were honest it usually happens the other way around.  

Establish walls of truth– Establish a place that is safe.  When your husband has a tough day or a child’s heart is hurting, they need to feel safe within the bounds of home.  The walls of home should beckon to our family and allow them to feel safe and loved when the world comes crashing in.  Walls built on God’s truth bring safety and security for our loved ones by offering a place of rest.

Remember also you cannot do it alone.  There will be some days you will rise to the challenge and overcome and other days when you seem to take a backwards step, or two, or three.  Yet God’s grace is sufficient for it is made perfect in weakness.  Lean on Him and trust in Him.  Ephesians 1:17 is a good scripture to pray:

                             God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,

may you give me the spirit of wisdom and

revelation so that I may know You better and that

my heart will be enlightened and may know the hope

to which You have called me.”

Over the next months I hope to dig deeper into each area of the H.O.M.E.  I hope you will take this journey with me as I seek to learn more about becoming the wife, mother and woman I desire to be and I know God is calling me to be.

There have been many people who have asked during our time in the military how they can help or support military families they know.  Or a military family needs some support or encouragement especially during a deployment.  There are many resources out there but a new one is near and dear to my heart. 

A very close friend of mine and fellow Chaplain's wife has started a website for civilians and military folk alike.  Please go check it out.  It is called Operation We Are Here.  Spend some time there as there is much to read.  There are ideas of support and encouragement for civilians and good support resources for the military families as well. 

This idea grew out of a very difficult deployment for my friend that wasn't even their first deployment as a military family.  I personally like the name for it.  It comes from Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who.  So go and learn about those of us in "Who-ville."  When you stop by be sure to sign Benita's guestbook, too.

Deuteronomy 4:9 “…watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.”

Something I never had given much thought to until recently is that remembering (and memories) is important to God.  It is a recurring theme for me that our lives should weave a beautiful tapestry with our children’s lives.  The Bible is full of stories where God instructed His people to do something or to carry out a ceremony to remember something, and usually, something He had done for them.

Many accounts are found in the Old Testament.  In Joshua 3 and 4 we read of the Israelites carrying the Ark of the Covenant across the flooded Jordan River.  After the waters were parted to allow passage God commanded the leaders of the twelve tribes to take one stone each from the river and place it where the priests had stood with the Ark when they arrived safely on the other shore.  Remembering the Passover is still celebrated today by our Jewish brothers and sisters.  Celebrating the ‘passing over’ of the angel of death, thereby saving the Israelite nation before the exodus from Egypt.  God reminds us to remember the Sabbath Day, to remember the days of old, His deeds and wonders, and that life is short.  So what does that have to do with homeschooling?

I believe it has everything to do with homeschooling!  Think about your reasons for homeschooling.  For every family homeschooling there are at least 3-4 reasons (or more) they have for bringing their children home with them.  Giving your children a quality education or a better education that being in school would offer them is a valid reason for many families, however even that reason should not overshadow the importance of your relationship with your children.  Making memories and giving them things to remember about their days with you should be part of your daily life. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t admit to, at times, caving to the pressure of feeling or actually being behind and needing to catch up.  I, too, struggle with only doing academic work or doing “real” schoolwork versus building that relationship with our son or teaching to his gifts.  The real beauty of homeschooling is multifold but I sincerely believe that it isn’t just keeping our children home to give them a better education or to advance them academically.  It goes much deeper to building a lifelong relationship with them, a relationship where the bonds aren’t easily broken by time, place, or age. 

God gives us the example through His emphasis on remembrance and on making memories.  Even the Bible (mainly the first five books called the Pentateuch), began by being passed down from father to son through verbal recitation.  And those recitations happened through a daily walking with their children, not just teaching, but building relationships and making memories and teaching them to remember.  So while you go through your days, surround yourself and your children with whatever will be reminders of your time together.  Start today building memories with them.  Enjoy life together. 

I almost can't bring myself to type those words yet again.  Seems like it has been awhile since I last posted.  It doesn't just seem like it has been a long while.  So long in fact I almost decided to give up blogging.  I love to blog.  I love getting my thoughts out, sharing with others, thinking through my fingers, getting my fix of words in a day out even if it is by keyboard, and I do like to write...period.  But since I can't seem to sit down and blog I almost decided that perhaps it was time for me to close the book on blogging.  But with the encouragement of my most awesome hubby here I am again.

I think my DH is most awesome because my blogging and writing occasionally might encroach on our time together in the evenings yet he knows how much I like to write.  So he selflessly offers me that time....Sometimes.  I don't like to take that time very often. I also appreciate his understanding in that some of my lost desire grew from this period of time we have been in.

My FIL(his Dad), passed away on Christmas Eve morning.  Pop had been very ill and in the hospital for almost 3 weeks before the Lord called him home.  He actually died from the same pneumonia that my own Dad died from.  That was hard for me personally but, as Rick Warren says, "It isn't about me."  I did not go into the ICU to see him.  The memories of seeing my Dad so ill and on the ventilator and all are still too fresh even 25 years later.  Even though I was a critical care nurse for years those weren't memories I cared to have of my FIL.  Pop was a really awesome man and I wanted those memories of him.  Plus my visits to the hospital were really to support my DH and my MIL.

I am thankful that DS is old enough to have good memories of his Papa.  Pop always talked with DS and always took time with him.  DS will miss him greatly.  He was the only Papa he had.  I will miss Pop because he always loved to talk with me about homeschooling.  Pop, like my Dad, was a music teacher, and had higher degrees in Education.  Yet he always supported our decision to homeschool.  Pop also had this knack for making each DIL feel special to him anyway. 

But our grief is for our own loss.  Pop received the ultimate Christmas gift this year.  How could we possibly want him back in his old broken body anyway?  We do not grieve as those who have no hope and we will see Pop again.  DS says he believes his Papa and Papa Tom are playing their trumpets together in heaven with the angels.  I agree.  I can see that.  In fact knowing those two are together in heaven is a nice vision yet I am worried about the angels having to listen to all the really corny band director jokes DH and myself had to listen to growing up!

So I will be back and with a renewed hope of blogging more.  I do have some more to share especially of some things we have done recently.  So stayed tuned.  Blessings to you all and Happy New Year.  Only 21 days late.... 

Well after some searching today and originally thinking we might have had a Hawk moth or White-lined Sphinx moth(see below post), we believe we had a Banded Sphinx Moth.  DS was completely excited when we found the pictures online that looked just like his moth.  Once we started doing some more reading we felt more sure of our belief it was a Banded Sphinx moth.  One site we went to offered us a chance to record a sighting, which we did.  DS was thrilled about doing just that.  Then we got to reading more about the month and the pupa.  Well our excitement grew because we remembered what we found back in March while doing yard work.  DS found it while picking up pine cones and we wondered over it for a bit as it wiggled in our hands.  See the pictures below.

Imagine our thrill when we realized it was our moth's pupa!  How cool is that?  I haven't seen DS that excited about something in a while.  I was pretty excited, too.

Honestly I don't know how time slips past without posting.  I mean so many interesting, funny, or just plain crazy things happen on a daily basis but I never get the time carved out to sit down and share them.  DH has been reading Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald.  I used to be the Organization Queen but methinks I need to read this book.  It happened right after DS was born that organization went out the door.  Homeschooling sure has helped with getting my organization back somewhat but it goes much slower than I care for.

But what follows is a collage of our life over the past few weeks.  Enjoy and have a few laughs on us. 

DS with his kitty, Fresca

DH as "The Mummy"  Yes I am hot-natured and he isn't.  Note the rug, Dusty, at his feet to keep them warm.  So glad Dusty obliges.

The Mummy Returns.  That is one sheet, one thermal blanket, a comforter doubled over, plus a robe over the feet, and an Army cap all for good measure! 

 Give you all one guess what DS is getting for Christmas.  His own camera.  I keep finding these on mine.  The kid is pure silly.

Though I am seriously envious of his lashes. 

Talent abounds in our family.

Aaaah, classic Mac.  He sat p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y still as if we couldn't see him.  Even while I snapped away with the camera I believe he was firmly convinced he was invisible.   

This went on for at least 5 minutes, too.

One way cool moth we found.  Of course I need to get more organized so we can take time to look up what kind it is.  Gorgeous. 

DS after his first piano recital.  He did awesome!  I would download the video but I have no idea how to do that here.  Techno-challenged strikes again.

Fresca sleeping how we find her most days.   

This is the other way we find her.  Too funny!

"Does this make my butt look big?"
 

The calm before the next Mac attack.  Oh yes, 7 months old and already 9 pounds.  He is gonna be a BIG cat!

My crazy brother.  There are no words.  He was dropped on his head as a baby I am sure of it.  Yes, that is him in DS's batman cape and mask.  There are so many stories about this guy that truly defy anything remotely rational and that he has had an influence on our son is truly scary.  If you aren't sure just go check out all the many self-taken pictures DS does. 

That about sums our life up.  DS is loving Scouts and is eating up all his time with Daddy doing his Bear Scout stuff.  DS goes to work with Daddy as much as he can.  We shoot for one afternoon a week but it doesn't always work out but when it does they have a grand time.  DS always does his work better for Daddy, does Scouting things, they work on his "manhood" training, and DS partakes of the goodies in DH's office.  He runs a little "coffee shop" for the soldiers with snacks and goodies.  It is a good ministry.

Well I am sure there is more to share but for now this should do.  Till next time....

Welcome to everyone visiting from The Polished Apple.  Posted here is the devotional followed with personal examples.

Let’s continue talking about the treasure of our children since they are the reason we homeschool. How can we view it as a privilege to homeschool them on those days when the going gets tough?

Children are God’s most extraordinary and unique gifts and each one must be received this way--as God's unique gift to you.  One important aspect of recognizing your children as gifts often goes overlooked or unseen. Through this gift of them in your life God grows you more into the person He wants you to be. This means that you will be transformed into someone you'd never have become without them. It's a gift of personal growth and discovery, mostly spiritual, experienced each day as you see again life through the eyes of your children.

Perhaps you're not seeing your children as gifts from God right now. Perhaps, if you were honest, you'd admit that some of the interests your children have don't interest you much at all and you have a hard time being as supportive and enthusiastic as you know you should be. Or honestly, there may be a clash of personalities between you and a child. Turn to God and ask Him to give you the insight to see the gift of each child. Receive each one as a gift from God and ask Him to help you see what work He is trying to accomplish in you. Give thanks for each of your children.

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If you peruse my blog much at all, you will see a recurring theme of how different DS and I are.  Though I was raised in a musical family and play an instrument, I am very analytical, logical, and have not a creative bone in my body.  DS, on the other hand, is very creative, especially loving to weave and spin stories.  It is a challenge to show interest much less be interested in his many stories.  But it is a choice to show him interest daily.  I even have to watch my facial expressions when listening to him for he picks up on the slightest hint of disinterest.  Honestly God is honing me into becoming less self-centered and more focused on others and accomplishing that through DS.  It is a practice of self-control to show interest and put aside whatever I am doing to listen to him. I could probably go on with more on this subject but suffice it to say it really becomes an issue of self-control on my part and dying to self daily.

Personalities.....Well DS and I are not very different.  We are actually carbon copies of each other personality-wise.  Not a good thing when you spend as much time together as we spend.  We 'butt heads' often.  DH often says he has to "separate the children" when DS and I are having one of those days.    

I have read lots of books and articles on personalities and each offers a keen insight into DS and myself.  Some of the good ones are Florence Littauer (and CLASS). Also Kevin Leman's The New Birth Order Book.  You can find all manner of articles and books into personality types including "Beavers, Otters, Lions, and Retrievers;"  introverts versus extroverts; and the Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Melacholy personalities.  My personal favorites which would also cover insight into your marriage relationship (thereby killing two proverbial birds with one stone), are Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages  (he also has written The Five Love Languages For Children), and Pam Farrel's Men Are Like Waffles-Women Are Like Spaghetti. 

One help I receive is from my awesome husband.  Now that he is not deployed he takes DS to work with him as often as he is able.  He usually manages an afternoon a week .  DS works on school with Daddy, helps Daddy at work, and they work on his "manhood" training.  I realize that I am in a special position and know that many of you may not have a situation that affords this.  Ask God to show you ways to have time away especially if there is one child that you especially struggle with their personality. 

However, with all that being said, there is no substitute for going before God and asking for His wisdom and guidance in revealing your child's gifts and personality to you.  But don't stop there.  Ask Him to reveal to you how to best train this gift He has given you and give you the insight into what work He may be doing in you through your child(ren).  He is faithful to answer our prayers especially when we ask for His wisdom and insight.

So here I sit realizing yet again that it has been awhile since I posted.  Oh I have had many good thoughts or things to share but my brain jettisons the information about 10 minutes after the thought first enters.  Which makes posting next to impossible unless I just happen to be sitting near the computer without DS telling me yet another story.

DS is definitely artsy and all that.  I am not.  He LOVES his piano and lessons.  He loves to draw and draw and draw.  He also adores making up stories.  Lots of stories.  And they have sequels, prequels, new episodes, etc., and I have to keep up with them.  He gets so put out with me when he walks up and says,"Mom, remember my story about so and so?"  I have learned not to say,"Uh, no." Or "I'm not sure.  Refresh my memory."  Or "Let me see.  Is that the one where such and such happened?"  Nope, all the above responses from me are losers.  I just answer,"Yes, honey." 

His stories are becoming much more elaborate and the days of me writing them down for him are over.  I just can't keep up.  Plus I would like to get some other things done during the day.  Oh say, like brush my teeth or get dressed.  You laugh but you don't know my son.  This kid can "talk up a blue streak" like we say in the South.  So what did I do the other day?  Why I dug my hole a little deeper.  I told him about Eragon and the boy that writes those stories.  Oh the little fire that has been lit.  Inferno more like it.  Yeats said,"....Education is like lighting a fire."  Did anyone bother to explain what to do when it burns out of control like the fires in California during the Santa Ana winds? 

Where was I going with all that?  Oh.  My thoughts aren't my own.  Heavens, my brain isn't my own lately.  So hopefully soon DS will have learned enough cursive writing strokes to begin working on writing his stories down.  Soon I hope he is more confident in his spelling to write without me having to be literally right by his side.  Not complaining.  Just sharing that when I fall off the face of the earth you can just drum up this little picture in your mind of me sitting, quietly mind you, while DS is sharing another saga in another story of his.

Other than that life rolls along.

DS saw this and laughed so hard.  I mean, really.  This is so funny.  And I have to admit I agree with Spidey on this one. 

DS was saying his prayers tonight.  He was praying for some things and then said,"If it be your will, Lord.  Let it be."  Okay so I want that kind of faith.  I see now each day what "faith like a child" looks like through DS.  I sure needed it today when we found out that we will most likely be moving again next June.  I feel like we just got here and we had hoped to stay 3 years here but that is not the Army's/ Lord's plans.  Hearing DS's prayer surely caused me to pause and realize that his prayer should be mine.

Yes I am disappointed we will be moving and another school year will be interrupted.  Yes I love our home and don't want to leave.  But I should not love or want these things more than I want the Lord.  I should desire Him more than any of it.  And that uninterrupted school year?  Well I need to remind myself that God surely knew about this before we did and He will equip me if I only lean on Him.  Right?

So, let me see if I can do it.  "Lord, you know our hearts' desire is to stay here.  Help us to accept the coming move with eager anticipation of what you have in store for us.  Let your will be done.  Let it be."

Amy over at Dandelion Seeds has a wonderful idea for covering Marsha and her family in prayer.  Go by Amy's blog to sign up for a time committing to pray for the Drews family. 

Treasure your children.  I know I cannot hug DS enough this week.

Though many of us, including myself, have never met Marsha (and David), in person we all feel like we know her and are all reeling from the news of the profound loss of their precious Christian.  If you are not aware please go here to read of the loss of their youngest son this past week. 

Keep their family in your prayers in the coming days, weeks, and months, and consider offering what sympathy you feel led to or a gift to their church in memory of Christian.  What a fitting tribute to this little boy to give to missions to carry the Word to a lost and hurting world.

I know for me personally I have enjoyed getting to know Marsha's family and her boys through her sharp witty posts and insightful humor into life.  Though in this world of cyber-everything where so many relationships are surface only, Marsha reaches out and intimately shares her life with you and gets involved with yours.  I count her as a friend though we have never met face-to-face. 

I look forward to meeting Christian when we all sit at Jesus' feet.