Good song I heard while jogging today...

Toby McKeehan -- Suddenly

She blew everything to pieces
He's there hangin' on to Jesus
She broke everything about him down
He said he never saw it coming
Until the day she dropped the bomb
And she broke everything about him down
Sometimes there's nothing left but to believe

Chorus:
And suddenly all of it's behind you
And I'm here to remind you
That yesterday is gone so say goodbye
And suddenly the skies open above you
And someone really loves you
Now everything's alive...everything's alive

She's there broken into pieces
But he swears he doesn't really see it
When she says that all of it was so unfair
Hope road is just around the corner
It's one place there's never been a foreigner
'Cause God's love makes everybody welcome there
Sometimes there nothing left but to believe

Chorus:
And suddenly all of it's behind you
And I'm here to remind you
That yesterday is gone so say goodbye
And suddenly the skies open above you
And Jesus really loves you
Now everything's alive...everything's alive

Sometimes it's in an instant
Sometimes we wait for years
But it comes down to the moment when faith eclipses fear
Your wandering is over
The other side is real
You've broken through
Your mountain moved
And mercy is revealed, His mercy is revealed, yeah
Yesterday is gone, gone...

Chorus:
And suddenly all of it's behind you
And I'm here to remind you
That yesterday is gone so wave goodbye
And finally the skies open around you
And love has truly found you
Now everything is alive...everything's alive
Everything's alive
Sometimes there's nothing left but to believe

Trip to Santa Barbara and Ventura, October 2009

It was wonderful to spend a few days in Santa Barbara with Georg, Jacqueline, and their 4 kids. The cousins had so much fun playing together.

We went to Channel Island Visitor Center in Ventura with Opa and Heidi while Carl surfed. The tide pool was fascinating with all sorts of fish and creatures inhabiting it.

Hanna and Christine

Lily and Sophia

Planning a charade

Lily and Sophia watch the charade and try to guess.

Playing "charades."

Fun in the hot tub...even in the rain.

On the beach in Santa Barbara by the Mesa steps.

Silly faces.

Cousins: Trey, Maggie, Louise, Philip, Christine, Hanna, Sophia, and Lily

We enjoyed catching up with Georg and Jacqueline, eating yummy sushi, playing with the cousins, and seeing dad and Heidi.

What I saw at the backdoor...

The kids played dress-up, and Trey was in his trusty monkey suit (he doesn't have much of a selection for dress-up, poor guy!) He doesn't know quite what to do when they are ballerinas, or princesses, or pioneer girls.

Trey and Lily were playing together yesterday and I heard them calling each other "Joseph" and "Mary." Trey said, "Mary, you a good woman!" So funny! Trey's favorite clothes are actually his pjs--the soft, cotton kind. I need to get him some new ones soon because his are so small now, and his belly shows :)

My Diet

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
1 Peter 2:3
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I go through stages, sometimes really struggling with my eating, and other times not so much. But it is always difficult to discern when the food is delightful and yummy, and I am filling something other than my tummy, and when I am just eating to survive. I almost can't truly enjoy a chocolate chip cookie, some ice cream, or something chocolate without it becoming more than just food. And this bothers me.

I have tried to pray before eating anything, thanking the Lord for His provision. This week I was reading the verses I quote above, desiring to "taste that the Lord is good." I want that to be my daily "diet." Craving spiritual growth. Craving the Lord. More of Him and less of me.

Fall in Love With Homeschooling Again

This is what I read in "The Homeschool Minute" this week:

Fall in love with homeschooling again?

It was a terrible start to the week. By Monday morning at 10:00 am, I was in tears. I can't do all of this. I can't be everything to everyone. The sheer magnitude of my work load was depressing me. Why can't I be like all those other homeschool moms who have everything in order: a place for every Johnny, and every Johnny in his place? Why do I have to always struggle with being over committed on top of having more than one difficult child? What is wrong with this picture? I have lost my first love of homeschooling, and it's only October! I was quickly letting depression settle in.

When I felt like retreating into a shell, I did the opposite and I called on all the prayer warriors I knew and took their advice, be it physical or spiritual. Here is some of the advice I received:

1. One friend reminded me that Jesus was under a constant barrage of needs to be met, but only did what the Father told Him to do. I don't know why I think I can do it all--I really can't. I need to be more like Jesus and only do what my Father tells me to do. Jesus went away from the crowds to a quiet place to rest and be with His Father. I need to do the same, if only in my heart of hearts.
2. Another friend reminded me of the Psalm that says better is one day in the courts of the Lord than a thousand elsewhere. Why do I wander so often to spend that thousand elsewhere? If I were truly dwelling in His presence in the daily routines, the daily routines would not have the stress and frustration attached to them. I could then truly serve the Lord with gladness.
3. My sister said that when she is overwhelmed, she gets books on tape or educational movies for the kids and then catches up on her other tasks. Getting caught up on what's stacking up helps alleviate the frustration of watching more pile up while you are homeschooling. I went right out to my local library and the kids have had great incentive to get their schoolwork and chores done.
4. Not only were my spirits lifted by my friends, I also had several people contact me with greater needs than mine. I was able to come alongside and strengthen them and really pray for them. There is nothing like the lifting up of weary arms in the midst of battle while strengthening your own heart.
   

Pray that the joy of the Lord will be your strength as you refocus on the blessings of having your children home where they belong, and you just might fall in love with homeschooling once again.

~Deborah

What an encouraging reminder!

Some memories from September 2009

I think this was the 10th Annual Neighborhood Picnic--and it rained! We had a blast in our garage "room" and the kids still went outside and played in the rain.



Here's what I saw when I went to tuck in my little guy--precious! He calls these pjs his "strawberry brownie" ones (he also has moose pjs and doggie pjs--if he could, he'd just wear pjs all the time!) He encouraged me the other day by saying, "Mama, you are JUST what I like!" and "Mama, you my best friend." He brushed out my hair and then peered at me with huge eyes, "You sooooo cute!"

The girls and I went to a pioneer day called "Westward Ho!" They learned lost about the pioneers and did different crafts as well. Lunch was Wagonwheel Chili with cornbread.

I caught this shot at the Spring Lake Lagoon :)

The girls are part fish (like their Opa). Hanna forwent dinner to continue to swim!

"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love, and encourages you with hope." --Author Unknown