Is there anyone that doesn't feel overwhelmed by the work they have facing them? I saw a sermon by Joni Erikson Tada and she said just putting on a smile every morning for the woman that came to get her out of bed took prayer. Imagine not being able to even wipe your own nose, do your own teeth, bathe. And her prayer was to smile through it. Surely we can smile through what we face. 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). COMFORTER!

I am feeling so blessed this morning.  My children are all around me.  I have a husband that loves me.  Most of the food on the table is what we have grown.  Ds3 started riding a 2-wheel bike last week.  His training wheels had broken off when ha threw it out of the bed of the truck a couple of months ago.  He worked at riding it, scooting along with his feet on the ground, occasionally trying to pedal.  Then, last week, he did it.  He pedalled and didn't fall for a good 10 feet.  Now he's going much farther without falling. 

Dd1 came up and said she was going to eat something with less carbs in it than corn on the cob so she could lose weight.  I said I didn't think the corn had many carbs if you didn't add the butter.  She replied it's what we use to fatten cattle.

I just had to copy these from the Homeschool Minute so I would remember them.  I hope this isn't a copyright infringement.

Well, we are a little farther along and have found a purpose in all that has happened.  We went to a women's ministry together last night.  My girls were surrounded with Godly women who prayed that they could be a good example for my girls.  It was a wonderful experience that would not have happened if DD2 was still in the play.  It has also taught me to analyze the value of theater.  For many years, theater was shunned by some people as unacceptable.  Does it cause pride?  Does it edify?  As with all things, we have to look in our own hearts to see what exist there.  I now believe our time is better spent in activities with the church.  Hopefully, we can glorify God.  Do I believe I gossiped or committed slander?  No.   I should not have used the word evil.  All sin is evil but we don't want to put the word with it.  The show must go on, but we'll not be there.  There are times when we have to fight to conform to God's law to love our neighbors.  This was a challenge when faced with someone hurting your child.  But I can say that I love my neighbors; have found joy in not spending time and money for gas that I didn't have for the theater; and been taught another great lesson about where we want to spend our time and energy.  I feel completely blessed to have had the experience of once again finding grace in the Lord.  He never stops extending grace. 

Yesterday was our co-op.  In science, the kids were studying snakes.  That didn't thrill a lot of the moms.  Then in gym, they had a basketball clinic.  For our county history class, we studied canals.  I added a little math in there like how long did it take to travel 76 miles when they were travelling at 4 mph.  I am personally fascinated with the canals and the bankrupcy the state endured because of them.  It made Indiana put in our Constitution that we would never have deficit spending again.  I wish our country had made that law back when.  Look at the mess California is in with their debt.  When you see you're spending too much, just stop.  It's that simple.  The canals were fascinating.  The railroads ran them out of business.  That will be our next stop in history.  Then it's on to the Civil War.  Did you know Indiana gave the second largest percentage of soldiers per capita of any state, second only to Delaware?  We had some very dedicated people, even Quakers, who picked up weapons to fight for the rights of all.  But what would you expect from an area that was founded largely because they abhorred living near slavery?  I love learning.  I am so grateful God has made me a homeschooling mom.