Even my husband doesn't give me flowers!  But the sweet and wonderful ladies of co-op gave me a send-off after our last mom's room meeting that included not only these lovely flowers, but a shower of cards and gifts, too.  And this weekend at our Spring Program, Cathy gave me a lovely gift, but more importantly, lovely parting words.  Oh, how I've loved this group of ladies!  Oh, how I've loved the mom's room ministry!  God couldn't have placed a more perfect situation in front of me and because of that, I went to every meeting full of excitement and thankfulness.

Why did I step away from it you ask?  After all, I've known for years that God was preparing my heart for women's ministry.  I've prayed for years that He would open wide the doors for me to use my talents.  I was given the opportunity to not only be in a unique sort of women's ministry, but was able to teach about teaching (my passion) and encourage homeschoolers (another passion) at the same time. 

Why?  Well, God and I haven't gotten to the full answer to that question yet.  But, one thing I know for sure, He has never failed me yet and I don't expect He will this time either.  If asking me to leave a ministry like the mom's room means He has even more perfect work for me to do, then I will go forth gladly.  Gladly, but still with a heavy heart.  At least for now.  I love my friends from co-op as much as I love the job I had at co-op.  If nothing else, it's simply hard to walk away from something that's been a wonderful part of your life for five years. 

But, I go knowing that the Lord's work is more important than my wants.  I go knowing that friends can still be friends even if I don't see them every week.  I go knowing that the doors won't be locked if I need to go back.  I go knowing that the Lord will soon enough reveal to me the answer of "Why?"

To hopefully lighten up the tone of this post, here are some pictures from our Spring Program.  It's a wonderful night of performances, pictures and food.  :)

As co-op comes to a close for this school year, and I am finishing the "love" verses, this will be the last "Inspiration of the Week".  I hope you've enjoyed these entries.  They forced me to write down some of my Bible-time thoughts, which I tend to shy away from - at least for all the world to read.  ;) 

Quote of the Week

We destroy the love of learning in children, which is so strong when they are small, by encouraging and compelling them to work for petty rewards--gold stars, or papers marked 100 and tacked to the wall, or A's on report cards, or honor rolls, or dean's lists or Phi Beta Kappa keys--in short, for the ignoble satisfaction of feeling that they are better than someone else.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love never fails....

1.)  What is love? 

1 John 4:8  "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

2.)  What did Love do? 

1 John 4:9-10  "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love: not the we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

3.)  How do we love? 

1 John 4:12  "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."

1 John 5:2-4  "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving and carrying out His commands.  This is love for God: to obey His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome."

1+2+3 = LOVE never fails. 

Quote of the Week

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love always perseveres....

Boy is this a good one to remember this time of year!  Like many of you, I'm ready to throw in the towel on the final stretch of this year's lessons.  But, I love my kids and will continue to persevere, even on the beautiful spring days that call my name.  (Four weeks to go.  Hurray!!)

Seriously, though, perseverance is a must in life here on earth.  Satan loves to throw stumbling blocks in our way and if we don't persevere, we will quickly lose heart and be realy to give up in whatever the trial may be - our marriage, homeschooling, a wayward child, a lost friend, a job God has called us to do, witnessing to the lost....  

When trials come, try to remember that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6 goes on to tell us to put on our armor so that we can be ready for the fight.  On the days I forget to put on all the armor, I fail miserably at persevering through the struggles.  The armor works. 

Quote of the Week

One of the most important effects of the study of a subject should be the development of a spirit of inquiry. The ability to ask real questions is more useful than the capacity to answer simple ones.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love always hopes....

Hope is the opposite of despair.  Despair is a feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out right.  Ever been there? 

I have a confession to make.  When I'm in the worst depths of my PMS, despair is the word that most describes my attitude.  "Poor pitiful me.  Everyone is against me.  No one helps me.  The weight of the world is on my shoulders."  Yes, I noticed a theme there, too.  "Me."  Shameful, I know.  I'm praying about and working through replacing my despair during those times with hope.  Here are some of the verses I've been clinging to:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God. 

Psalm 42:11

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. 

Psalm 62:5

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put hope in your Word.

Psalm 119:114

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. 

Lamentations 3:25

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

For everything that was written in the past was to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:23

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. 

Titus 2:11-14

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. 

Romans 5:1-5

May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13

Quote of the Week

For all of the virtues required in the art of childrearing, none is more important - and none rarer - than patience, in parents, in family, in friends; patience to allow the miracle of human development to unfold according to its own internal laws, from birth through infancy and childhood and youth, and even till the moment of death.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love always trusts....

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Okay, trust is a hard one for this perfectionist sort of gal.  I guess my motto could be, "It's easier to just do it myself, rather than trust someone else to do it *my* way."  Who says *my* way is right?  Me, of course!

God has been giving me many opportunities lately to turn my trust over to Him and others in my life.  I'll spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say that I'm still working on it.  And He's still helping me to work on it.  ;)

For what it's worth, here's my opinion of "love always trusts." 

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:3-6

Trust God.  He needs to be the pilot, not the co-pilot.  Even when you are called to make decisions that you don't want to, trust that He has a bigger and better plan than you can even imagine.  Confronted with a tough decision lately, a very wise friend of mine said something that has really stuck with me.  "Sometimes God asks you to do something just to see if you will obey Him and trust Him."  This often requires laying down *my* wants.  In fact, I'm even feeling like it's laying down the desires He's put in my heart.  But who knows how obeying and trusting Him now could lead to fulfilling the desires of my heart in an even bigger way down the road? 

Trust my husband.  Oi.  Who else struggles with this one in some way or another?  No need to raise a hand. 

I trust my husband in so many ways.  In fact, I've grown in this area a lot over almost fourteen years of marriage.  BUT, there are still a few things, mostly little, that I struggle with.  So, instead of letting him take those little things and either sink or swim, I choose to do them myself.  Not only is that bad for him, but it's bad for me, too.  I think anytime we're not in God's will, we will suffer.  Me not trusting my husband to handle certain things puts much unnecessary stress on me.

Trust my children.  This one is surprisingly coming easier to me than I ever imagined it would.  What's one of our main goals as a momma?  To raise children who can be independent, right?  I have been working on giving them my "trust" to tackle certain things on their own ever since they've been little.  Chores, cooking, baking, caring for the animals, choosing some of their own curriculum, helping with some serious farm chores...

The harder ones for me involve trusting them to make good "heart" decisions when I'm not around.  Things like not following the crowd when the crowd rushes into sinful behavior.  Choosing close friends that will walk along the path of righteousness with them.  Trusting that they will remember what the path of righteousness even looks like when the world does its best to hide the path. 

Instead of trusting my children, the job I've *hopefully* done as a parent, and God, I choose often to worry instead.  I choose often to magnify their mistakes instead of allowing them to grow from the mistakes.  Both of these things come from a lack of trust!

Trust Others.  I've had my share of let downs with people - some friends, some strangers.  Just because those people have been untrustworthy, doesn't mean I should go through this world with an untrusting view of people in general.  Be smart, but don't be cynical.  Untrusting people are the grumpies you run across who make you want to turn and run. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Quote of the Week

Any child who can spend an hour or two a day, or more if he wants, with adults that he likes, who are interested in the world and like to talk about it, will on most days learn far more from their talk than he would learn in a week of school.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love always protects...

Jesus prayed for our protection.  How cool is that??  "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one."   John 17:15

When I think about protecting my family, I can easily become a worry wart and dream up every scenario of evil or sickness or sadness or you name it that could possibly happen.  When God tells us that love always protects, I don't think He means we become worry warts and spend our days heading all manners of disaster off at the path.  

I do, however, think He expects us to take reasonable actions and precautions to avoid things when we are able.  Eating well, exercising and brushing teeth, for instance, to protect our family's health.  Having a fire escape plan and practicing it during a family drill.  Talking to our children about stranger safety. 

When I think of the 1 Corinthians passage talking about "love always protects", my mind goes in a tad different direction.  Besides physical protection, I believe we are to protect the the heart, mind and soul as well.  Guarding these things can come in so many different ways:

-making sure their eyes and ears feast on pure, wholesome material

-speaking words of kindness and encouragement to them

-never gossiping about them or putting them down to others

-filling them up with Scripture

-building a hedge of protection around them through prayer

-being available when they need you so they don't turn to others for their needs

Proverbs 2:11b says "...Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."  Of all the things we do to protect our families, I find the most important thing to be passing on discretion and understanding so they can learn to protect themselves when we are away. 

And how to do this?  "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  2 Timothy 3:16,17  Be in the Word with them.  Live the Word around them. 

I know I've said it before, but I'm part of a WONDERFUL co-op.  Our leader, Cathy, is celebrating her 10th anniversary since starting the group. 

I've been incredibly blessed this year to help Cathy out by leading the Mom's Room.  The best way I can describe the Mom's Room is in a series of words and phrases: prayer, devotions, homeschool information, homeschool workshops, marriage support, parenting support, homemaking support, friendships, encouragement......

Every year, we've always held a banquet (similar to a mother/duaghter banquet you might have a church) to honor the mothers.  It was a hard act to follow to organize the banquet myself after so many years of being pampered and uplifted by Cathy!  But, I pray that everyone was blessed and encouraged by our day Monday.  I went home exhausted, but incredibly blessed, too.

Nancy Carter was our speaker for the day, and let me tell you, her message on grace was perfect!  She spoke about the importance of remembering God's grace as we strive to be great moms, wives, and homeschoolers.  And reminded us to show the same grace to our families in good or not-so-good moments. 

Two thoughts really stood out in my mind from her talk: 

-DON'T compare yourself to others, whether it's as a mom or a homeschooler or whatever.  If God had intended for your children to have different parents, He would have given them different parents.

-Treat your family with grace whether they "deserve" it or not.

Not only did Nancy, and her lovely friend Candace, drive nearly 3 1/2 hours to be with us - they came bearing gifts as well!  :)  Nancy brought The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for each of the ladies and Candace's husband donated a copy of his The Star Spangled State Book and Workbook for a door prize!  :)

I promised to share the lyrics to a song our 5/6th grade choir sang.  The author is Zac G. and the original words can be found here.

Song

"We Are the Homeschool Kids Who Can't Do Anything" - sung to the tune of the Veggie Tales "Pirates" song.

Chorus

We are the homeschool kids who can't do anything

We just stay at home and do our work

And if you ask us to do anything

We'll just tell you we can't do anything!

Well we can't pass notes in math class

and we've never bought a school lunch

and we've never had our homework eaten by the family dog

and we've never had a hall pass

and we've never owned a locker

and we've never had detention after school

Chorus

Well we've never been suspended

and we've never missed the school bus

and we've never got a fat lip from the bully down the hall

and we've never seen the school nurse

and we've never slapped erasers

and we've never had detention after school

Chorus

Well we've never changed for P.E.

and we've never had a swirlie

and we've never had a teacher that we didn't like at all

and we've never had supply lists

and we've never answered roll call

and we've never had detention after school

Chorus

But we've often taken field trips

and we go to school in pj's

and we often do our work while sitting on our favorite couch

and we finish school by lunchtime

and we find our books on ebay

and we don't have any homework after school

Chorus

Here are links to the poems that were read.

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

Mother

Raising Boys

Dear Lord, It's Been a Hectic Day

It was a wonderful day!   I can't end this without a big THANK YOU to Brooke & Mike and Nancy, Gerald & Kelsey!!  

Quote of the Week

Many parents discover that their homeschool improves when they decide to learn something new themselves and work on it. They set a good example for their child, of course, but they also gain insights into the learning process when they ask themselves: What helped me the most? What interfered with my learning?                                                                                      

-Larry and Susan Kaseman

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth....

Be truthful always.  Sometimes the truth is not easy, but necessary.  Lies, flattery and turning a deaf ear or blind eye will never help anyone. 

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.

-Ephesians 4:15

On another note, keep your word.  When you say you will do something and then fail to do it, is that any different than lying? 

Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no', 'no'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

-Matthew 5:37

Quote of the Week

It is not what's poured into a student, but what is planted that counts.

Hildebrand

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love keeps no record of wrongs....

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 32:5

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

Matthew 6:14

Our co-op's annual Mother's Banquet is coming up soon.  We have a very special lady coming to speak to us!  We played 20+ Questions and then made guesses as to who it is.  Three people guessed correctly!  Can you guess who it is??  Here are the questions they asked and the answers.

-Is the speaker from Answers in Genesis?  No
-Is the speaker part of a homeschool ministry?  Kinda - sorta
-Has the speaker written a book?  Not that I'm aware of
-Has the speaker written a curriculum?  No
-Has the speaker been at co-op before?  No
-Does he/she live in KY?  Yes
-Is he/she involved in government?  No
-Is it a female?  Yes
-Is her name well known?  To some
-Does she have her own website?  Not that I'm aware of
-Does she have a blog?  Yes
-Is she a preacher's wife?  I don't think so
-Has she spoken at any sort of homeschool convention?  Yes
-Does she endorse a certain curriculum?  No
-Is her speaking topic relevant to her ministry?  No
-Is she any part of a homeschool newsletter?  Yes
-Does she live on a farm?  Acreage, I think.

-Is she in her 30's?  Yes

-Is her ministry singing?  No

-Is her ministry dancing?  No

-Has she lived in KY long?  I have no idea

-Is she associated with a magazine?  Yes

-Is she blonde?  Yes

Who's coming to speak at our banquet???  :o)  (Co-op gals, don't tell!)

NO GUESSES???  Okay, I won't keep you in suspense any longer......we will be blessed with a message about Grace in Our Homeschools by NANCY CARTER!!!!!  How excited are we??  :)  I'll be sure to fill you in on our Mother's Banquet after it happens.

Quote of the Week

Master teachers rarely work for a curriculum; the curriculum works for them.  Creativity flows from preparation, and experienced instructors know "if you don't prepare, you repair." 

Rick Chromey

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is not easily angered....

Mamas, how easy is it to become angered after saying something 15 billion times to your children?  Being home with our children all the time creates an awesome opportunity to teach, lead, mold, correct, love and grow.  Being with our children all the time also creates an atmosphere that could lead to frequent anger or agitation.  But LOVE is not easily angered.  Be sure your home is soaked in LOVE.  It can only come from God - our source of strength and self-control - even if we have to say something 15 billion and one times. 

Quote of the Week

If you want to build a boat, do not drum up people to collect wood or assign them tasks or work, but rather teach them to long for the immensity of the sea.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is not self-seeking....

This is something that comes so easy for homeschooling moms on one hand, but yet can be so hard on the other hand.  We are always seeking to do what's best for others, namely our family, without any strings attached to "what's this going to get for me".  But sometimes, I believe this is at the expense of ourselves.  When we seek to do for others, yet forget to seek our Lord or don't make time to seek Him, our "servanthood" to others can quickly turn to bitterness.  Be watchful this week to whom you are seeking and make sure your seeking is in the right order.

Quote of the Week

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.

Sir Walter Scott

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is not rude....

The opposite of rude is polite.  How polite are you on a daily basis?  Are you polite to your husband, your children, the cashier at the grocery?  How about the car that cuts you off on the interstate?  How about the waitress who forgets your refill? 

God tells us in James 4:1-3 that quarrels rise up in us only out of our own selfishness - not getting exactly what we want, when we want it.  Rudeness in my mind is a sort of quarrel.  Someone doesn't do what we want, so we act in such a way to 'let them know about it'.  Or even worse, what if we are getting your way and still choose to be rude?  What purpose does that serve?  Not only is our heart hard at that moment, but we've not built up the other person as we're told in Ephesians 4:29.  Let's work on putting Philippians 4:8 to practice this week.  If we think on good things, how can rudeness be a part of us?

Philippians 4:8

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think on such things.

Quote of the Week

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. 

Roger Lewin

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is not proud....

Deut. 8:11-14

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and decrees that I am giving you this day.  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forgeth the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Pride comes upon us ever so quietly sometimes.  Search your heart this week to be sure God is the source of all your praise. 

Quote of the Week

"We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we don't need to tell anybody it does.  Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine.

Dwight L. Moody

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love does not boast....

When we do things for others, it's important that we do them humbly.  To let everyone know we "did this" or "did that" is boastful and almost takes away the genuineness of the act.  Jesus was never boastful in all the mighty things He did.

Take time to do a quiet act of service for someone this week.  Never mention to anyone else that you did it.

Matthew 6:1-4

Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what was done in secret, will reward you.

Quote of the Week

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.  There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe your critics are right.  To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires....courage.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cindy's note:  Courage and perseverance often silences your critics.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love does not envy....

Proverbs 14:30  "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Envy can subtly overtake us.  Reading too many magazines or watching too much tv can grow a root of discontent in many areas - our homes, our things, our bodies, our marriages, our children, our tasks as homemakers and homeschoolers.....

Take time this week to evaluate your reading and watching habits.  Are they a source of any envy?

Quote of the Week

Failure was a part of God's training curriculum for the disciples over one hundred times in the Gospels.  It wasn't until Peter had failed terribly that he was given his greatest responsibility.

Roland Niednagel

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is kind....

Take purposeful time this week to do something kind and say something kind for each member of your family.

Do you treat others more kindly than your own family?  Think about this question this week.

1 Thes 5:15b  "...but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."

Co-op started again!  I love my co-op and realized not too long ago that this is my 5th year with them.  Time flies.  Anyway, it's time for the Inspiration of the Week again, too.  Be blessed!

Quote of the Week

"If it's torture, it's not worth it.  Try something different."  Shay Seaborne

(Specifically relating to homeschooling frustrations.)

1st Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love is patient......

Proverbs15:18  "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."

As a mom often sets the stage for attitudes at home, take some time this week to purposely think about which type of Proverbs (wo)man you are in your home. 

This will be that last Inspiration of the Week until the new year.  :)

Quote of the Week

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

1st Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Write a letter to your family to be given to them on Thanksgiving.  Simply start it with, "I'm thankful for my family because........"

*Don't forget!  CM Blog Carnival articles need to be in by tonight at midnight.  Thanks!  (The carnival is shaping up to be a GREAT one!!)  

Here's this week's Inspiration.....

Quote of the Week

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were big things.

Robert Brault

1st Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Get a head start on a meaningful, handmade Christmas gift for the neighbors, teachers and others in your life who need to know Jesus.  Make Layered M&M Cookies in a Jar and include this cute poem:

As you hold these candies in your hand,

And turn them, you will see

The M becomes a W, an E, and then a 3.

They tell the Christmas story, it's one I'm sure you know.

It took place in a stable a long, long time ago.

The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright.

The M is for the Manger, where baby Jesus slept that night.

The 3 is for the Wise Men, bearing gifts, they say they came.

W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His name!

So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend,

Remember the meaning of Christmas,

It's a love story that never ends.

by Pam Ridenour