I'm smarter than you are??? Really???

I was talking to a sweet, long missed friend of mine a couple of nights ago and we got on the subject of our beliefs and how good it feels to read something in the Bible and, actually, get the meaning of it. Like recently realizing that I can't take my life where it needs to go. I mean I always "knew" that I couldn't control it...but I never fully grasped it. I used to believe that I had a free choice on all decisions that I make...which contradicts what I thought I knew. I have recently learned that NO! I don't have that choice, that only lies in the hands of our Maker. I have learned through searching and searching through His Word that God makes the sovereign choice for me and you!!

But, going through that, for me, was a moment in my faith that I will never forget! It was one of the first times that God laid a situation on my heart and stayed persistent as He put people in my path that I needed to talk to. I sometimes wonder, though, how so many Christians can get so defensive when someone else reveals what God has revealed to them. I'm not saying that I had many issues going through this, but their were some. However, I've been in that situation before with friends...we all have! I was in it as I was battling myself through this! I couldn't believe how something could be so different than what I had believed before. Here's where the selfishness came in..."What, that can't be. I know that's not right?!" But, truth is, I know a small tiny pen point of what the Bible holds...

Don't take this the wrong way, I don't feel that I know more than anyone else or any other viewpoint is wrong, I do feel that my relationship with God and my view of the future completely changed for the better once I took the pressure off of 'ME' and followed Him. I'm not trying to say that this is what you should believe as that is between you and God, but the point I'm trying to get to is why do we automatically get so defensive when a new insight to a, possible, new outlook of Gods Word is brought to our attention. I honestly don't feel that anyone going through a similar situation is trying to sound, "Better than thou" or "Smarter than you", but rather looking for help as they walk through this life altering situation that God has laid on their heart. Because 9 times out of 10, they're looking for insight to help be able to grasp what God is trying to reveal.

Going through this experience has, for me, been life changing. It has changed the way I pray. I look at the future with ease, my children with comfort, this world with peace and my life with excitement. I know that nothing is in my hands, it is out of my control...and, honestly, I am relieved of that. To know that God's will is so much BIGGER than ANYTHING of this world...including myself is an amazing gift and nothing short of a relief!!

I know that I pray that I will be able to hear through Gods ears and feel through His heart. Will you?? Will your ears be open when someone comes to you with Scriptural references to something that God has revealed to them? Will you hear as though God was sitting next to you?? God reveals to some what He doesn't to others...Why?? Well, how would we grow and learn TOGETHER if He didn't?! If we knew EVERYTHING, how would we learn ANYTHING?! How would we share His Word to other 'believers'? God laid this on my heart through Scripture and LOTS of friends who He revealed this very thing to, many years ago. Yes, I had to come to grips with knowing that I was NOT the first to find out...

What is God laying on your heart?? What is He wanting you to dig in and find out more about? What!!! Remember the ears that will be relieving to you as you go through this that someone else needs today. Maybe God's not laying anything on your heart at this point...but, maybe you have a friend who is?!!!

God bless!!

Crossing the street...how simple??!!!

Last week my daughter's preschool class took a field trip to the library, which is about a block away, so we walked. On the way there, the kids decided that they no longer needed their jackets, so they removed them and stuck them in the van. They were in a hurry as to keep up with the line of children walking excitedly across the street as cars waited for us. But...my son's were in such a hurry that they shut their coats in the sliding door causing the door to keep opening as I was pushing the button to shut it. I, then, had to run over and see what was going on, as my son is watching and all I heard was, "sorry, mommy!" Of course, as much as I wanted to make him fix it, I ended up doing it, as it was a lot quicker to do so. Then as all that was going on, I had to say several times to make my boys wait for me...FINALLY we made it across the street and continued walking to the library. We had all the kids with us and most parents, so we had a nice little crowd. We made it to the library and went inside to the story room. Once there the kids were talked to about how the library worked, we then read some books and got some crafts to bring home, (no, we haven't done it yet...) During the library, which homeschool causes us:

• To be there far too often,


• Renting out far too many books and


• Unfortunately, pay far too many dues

I allowed my boys to play on the computers (since being there so often becomes a bit mundane :)). The kids looked at how the books were returned when they stuck them in the slot, which they were all so highly amazed with that process.

Then, we walked back. As we were walking, I realized my boys holding hands by themselves in front of Elli and I. I then realized that as crazy as it was to cross the street and put a simple jacket in the car that it all diminished in a second of viewing a sweet moment between my children.

I then asked Elli if she wanted to walk with her brothers so I could take a picture and naturally, the boys seperated and the peanut was stuck into the middle. I find it so uplifting how I teach my children so much, but God still manages to show me teachable moments through them.

I pray that I keep my eyes open to those moments forever.

A Full House and Full of Personality

One of the neatest things with all three of my children, is being able to see and experience their differing personalities everyday!! If any of you reading this have more than one child, you know EXACTLY what I mean! One child is a poster child, the next is the goofiest, then the next is just silly! Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of those fighting moments between my three children... You know the ones, "Mommy he's bugging me!" "Mommy, he's being mean!" "No, mommy, he's being mean!" "Mommy, she's looking at me!" "Mommy, he's touching me!" Yes, I have plenty of those moments in my house, those are the humbling moments!! But, the times when I look at each of my children and see the God-given traits that make each one of my children unique are the times that I just smile with a blessed heart.

My oldest, Payton, is very serious, extremely organized and loves to stay on top of everything. A standard picture of him is typically just a simple smile with a straight head...very streamlined! My second, Landon, is the goofy one! He loves to be silly and make others laugh and smile. He is SO caring and wears his heart on his sleeve. A standard picture of him is typically...oh wait, there is no standard picture of him, haha. I have to try to get a streamlined one, but they usually end up with a silly face, head tilted and hands doing..."something"! haha, definitely two different personalities! Both boys love to help Dan outside and our neighbors when they can! They love serving others and I see their faith many, many times throughout the day.

My third, Elli, is just plain silly!! From the day she was born she has completely had her own sense of style! When she was younger, I use to think she had to wear certain clothes, everything had to be matchy-matchy (you know...matching pants, socks, shoes, shirt, bow...everything). Up until about a year ago, I started realizing that I'm making her be what society sees, rather than what she wants. Trust me, sometimes I have to put a stop to certain outfits, but for the most part she does a pretty good job in picking out clothes and dressing herself. Sometimes she asks me to do her hair a certain way, then she adds her own thing to it, etc. This is very difficult for a Type-A, very matching momma who has to have everything in it's place! But, this is one of the moments, that my child has taught me to loosen the straps and have a little fun!! Yes, we have been plenty of places in her favorite pajamas because she just couldn't part with them or have worn the same shirt for three days because (in her words, "It's my favorite!"

I am like my first son, more streamlined, organized and a little more on the serious side! Then God knew I needed a little sillyness, so He gave me Dan! Dan is the goofy one who makes up his own words to songs, who usually has a silly face in his pictures, who could care less if his jeans have holes and grease stains, because that's what makes him comfortable. Our children are a reflection of who we are. Whether we are teaching them or their teaching us, a family's personality as a whole is hand-crafted by God. I'm very grateful for the sillyness in my life that shines through my husband and children and I know the seriousness is the perfect balance to the goofy ones in our home!

A different spin on traditional

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." ~Proverbs 22:6

Many of you already know just how important homeschooling is to me. It is a major passion along with many other things like being modest, 1930 mannerisms, respect and a passion for learning. My days can be struggles, but they are ultimately filled with success on so many different levels. I love seeing my children grow in different areas and seeing their strengths makes me smile... Seeing their weaknesses makes me feel human ;) I take so much humbleness in knowing that even though I didn't think I could...God did! Many times He wants us to step out of our comfort zone so we can lean on Him even more!! Trust me when I say that my days can feel never ending and I feel as though I've not done my "job" that day. There are days that I just want to lounge and do nothing and then think..."Today, I could be kid-free!" But, then there are days that I've opened my eyes up just enough to see God 'wink' at me with just enough encouragement to move on to the next. There are days that my sons smiles are exactly what I needed, a day where my son finally remembered the second sound of the letter G. The day my daughter finally got 'yellow' and 'orange' right!! Those are the days that I know that I am right where God needs me to be!!

I have a very traditional style of teaching that I do. It's very traditional and I teach alot of what used to be taught that is really unheard of anymore. But...This past month our "style" of homeschooling has changed a bit! Rather than me teaching my children EVERYTHING, my husband has yearned to become involved. I teach everyday the never-ending phonics, math, writing, journaling, poetry, art and literature. My husband teaches 2-3 times a week on his love for Science and History! This works out great because then I can touch base with it a little during the day, but the actual teaching (which is something he LOVES) is done by him. I think it's great to have the entire family involved in school. The only draw back to this is the fact that, on ocassion, we Netflix history related movies and I can't complain because my husband's response is quite valid, "But, honey, I'm doing this for our children..." Maybe I should've thought about it a while longer, lol.

I will leave you with this last conversation that I was blessed to witness the other day...

One of the simplest comments from my daughter is one that I will cherish forever. We were sitting in the car driving. The boys in the third row, Elli second and Dan and I in front. Payton told Elli that she could do "something" when she grows up and she replied with this, "No, Payton, I want to be a mommy when I grow up. Just like mommy!"

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." ~Proverbs 22:6