One Tiny Morsel

 

Today I had to be very creative with what to serve for lunch as I was limited on my options (this mama really needs to go grocery shopping!).  I had some leftover rice and some veggies, so I whipped up a stir fried rice dish...I even put in the scrambled eggs like the restaurants do!!

Of course my girls were not as excited about my wonderful creation as I was...so I bribed them (yes you heard me right I bribed them!!!) with the promise of a scoop of ice cream after they ate ALL their lunch.  My oldest ate all her lunch up in a jiffy and started in on her treat.  My youngest wasn't wanting to eat her lunch but really wanted the ice cream...so my oldest spoon fed her until she had eaten it all. 

Left was my lovely, but sometimes sneaky, middle daughter.  I was in the kitchen cleaning up and felt the need to look in on her in the dining room.  I looked just in time to catch her throwing a small piece of her food onto the ground.  I quickly said her name and she jumped for dear life....she had a look on her face like a deer in the headlights.  She got caught. 

I could have handled the situation a number of ways...in reality it was just a small morsel of food right?  No biggie, no REAL harm done, just a small unnoticeable amount.   But I turned it into a HUGE lesson for my daughter...one about honesty, integrity, and honoring God....even in the smallest of moments.

She was not given the opportunity for any ice cream.  There needed to be consequences for her actions because, although small, it was wrong, deceptive, sneaky, and dishonoring.  I wanted her to understand how exactly sin works in our lives. 

It starts out small, harmless, no big deal, no body would ever know, no one else would be impacted by that choice.  But sin takes root and grows and festers. 

SIN WILL TAKE YOU FARTHER THAN YOU WANTED TO GO, KEEP YOU LONGER THAN YOU WANTED TO STAY, AND COST YOU FAR MORE THAN YOU WERE WILLING TO PAY

Every day we have opportunities to teach our children the principals behind our faith, help them to understand right from wrong, show them how much God loves and values them, and extend grace and forgiveness to them just as God extends to us!

 

My daughter may have missed out on a delicious bowl of ice cream today but I hope and pray that the lesson she learned would be something she carries with her all of her life...how amazing it feels to confess wrong, to make things right, to be embraced with open arms and to receive forgiveness, and to have the weight of sin lifted.  No amount of ice cream can measure up!!

 

I wanted to share all of this today because there are many days as I mom I feel overwhelmed, discouraged, unmotivated, weary, and come down very hard on myself.  But it's in moments like today that I am reminded...it isn't all for nothing. 

 

Keep up all that you are doing moms!!  Your kids will someday be world changers all because you stopped to teach them a lesson on honesty over one tiny morsel!!

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Even "Supermoms" need to rest!

 

I truly wish this were the case....don't you?  Super powers that enable us to do all the things we do:

 

make breakfast

do laundry

give baths

teach little ones

discipline

pay bills

take kids to swim lessons

take kids to music lessons

take kids to dance lessons

kiss boo boos

mop floors

make lunch

dust furniture

teach at homeschool co-op

oversee monthly moms nights

scrub toilets

vacuum carpets

clean up messes

go grocery shopping

take kids to the library

forget to return the 500 million books in time to the library

run endless errands

make dinner

wash dishes

fold towels

plant a garden

mow the lawn

break up fights

tuck kids into bed

DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN THE NEXT DAY!!!

 

I recently hit an all time low with my energy level and started battling extreme fatigue.  I could barely make it to 2:00 in the afternoon before I needed to take a nap.  This wasn't the typically "tired" mom syndrome...my body felt heavy, drugged, and exhausted.

 

Besides having blood work done and beginning a regiment of supplements (Vitamin D, Vitamin C, B-Complex, B-12, Adrenal support, and iron),  I am learning to rest and say no to things.  Power naps are something I do 3-4 times a week.  That's OK!   I've had to cancel certain appointments because it's just too much with other activities in the same day.  That's OK!   My kids are watching more TV than I'd like them to!  That's OK!  I haven't planted a garden this year.  That's OK!  My kids are not getting lots of gourmet meals right now.  That's OK!  I've cancelled activities that I normally do on a monthly basis.  That's OK!  I took a break from running.  That's OK!  I called upon friends and asked them to pick up or bring my kids home from activities.  That's OK!

 

Most moms I know go and go and go.  They pour out so much into the lives of others...but so often forget to take care of themselves.   Remember it's ok to stop, to rest, to say no, to do something for yourself, to cancel appointments/activities, to not have a perfectly clean house or a gourmet meal every night, or to ask a friend to help out in some way.

 

Are you weary? tired? fatigued? overwhelmed? It's time to stop and surrender yourself before the Lord and find rest in Him.  You won't regret it!

 

 

Happy Mothers Day...now go put your feet up and rest!

You can be ordinary and leave the superhuman powers up to God!

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Let's catch up!!

Hello my fellow homeschool moms!  Do you ever plan a phone "date" with a friend to catch up on life?  I do!  Usually it's in the evening after the kids are in bed.  I get all giddy and just can't wait until the moment arrives when I get to talk to a sweet friend and hear her voice over the phone. 

Life is busy and sometimes days turn into weeks, or months, and you realize you haven't really connected with the people in your life you care the most about.  Although I don't know each one of you personally, I care about you as a precious mom and person!  I know all to well the demands, responsibilities, struggles, challenges, and worries that come with being a mom.

I wish I could sit and chat over a cup of tea and hear about all the details of your life, how homeschooling is going, how things are in your marriage, and how you personally are doing!

I'd love to chat for a few minutes, and share some of the different things going on in my life... 

Spring - Spring has arrived and with it some glorious sunshine!!  Of course it's raining right now as I type, but we have been blessed with some much needed warm weather!  As I look over my calendar for the next few months I just can't believe everything going on.  It is a busy next few months.  Can you relate?  From dance and piano recitals, to swim lessons, to the last few weeks of Friday School with our co-op, field trips, and a kids running/track program my girls are participating in...it's quite the list!  I am counting down the days until June...but as we all know it doesn't take long for the summer calendar to fill up with many fun activities.

Is your spring as crazy as mine?  Are you looking forward to summer?

Speech - Around the end of last year I had been feeling like speech therapy might be something beneficial for my youngest daughter.  She was going to turn 3 at the end of December and so I waited until that time came and went to pursue this option.   I inquired with many other moms, wanting feedback from those who had a child do speech therapy.  I got all sorts of responses, some encouraging me to have her evaluated, while many others suggested I wait and give it more time.  I wrestled with my options but in the end went with that "motherly instinct" and began making phone calls.  The different calls led me to a gal named Kelly, a speech therapist, who comes to you!! 

We scheduled an evaluation appointment, which went really well!  I felt such peace that this was the direction I needed to go.  The only issue...money.  I wasn't sure how we could afford the additional cost of bi-weekly sessions.  I was feeling very discouraged, wishing money wasn't an issue.  The Lord provided a way though...my parents offered to pay for 4 months of speech therapy!! 

So Kelly, or "teacher" as my daughter calls her, comes every other week for an hour session.  I am so thankful for Kelly and all her knowledge and the tools she is incorporating to help my daughter pronounce her sounds the "new way" rather than the "old way".  She is full of energy, fun, and constantly praising her for her achievements!

Maybe speech therapy isn't something you are looking into for a child, but are there things on your heart for your children?  Perhaps something you want to provide them with but you don't know how?  Have you seen God's provision recently for a need you had?


School - Our school year is slowly winding down.  There are things we have completed, almost completed, and others we are a tad behind on and trying to catch up with!  I just ordered the 3rd grade test packet for my oldest.  I also have been planning next year and ordering what we will need.  I am continuing on with Queen Homeschool, as this has been such a great fit for us!  We will also be doing the next book in the Apologia, "What We Believe" series.  We will be going through, "Who is my neighbor? and why does he need me?", along with the corresponding coloring book.  I am adding in one new item this next year, "Song School Spanish"!  How are your plans coming along for next school year?


Setting goals -  I set a big goal at the start of this year...to run 1,000 miles this year!  I have no idea if I will actually reach this number but I know that, no matter what, I will accomplish more miles this year then probably my entire life!  I have weekly running goals and several races lined up, because they help keep me motivated and moving forward.  Each day, each "step", is helping me get that much closer to my overall goal!

This morning, as I was running, I past a gal who was walking, running, walking...it reminded of myself last summer.  As I approached her I simply said, "You are doing great!  I was doing exactly what you are doing last summer and ran my first half marathon in December.  Keep it up!" and she responded with, "Thanks so much, I needed that!" 

You may not be a fan of running, but have you set any goals for this year?  Are you making progress towards reaching those goals?  Keep it up!!!


Small blessings - I received an email a few weeks ago from my homeschool co-op.  They were forwarding on information from a gal seeking part-time childcare for her 14 month old daughter.  I did not know this family personally but felt prompted to respond.  I have considered childcare over the years as an option to help bring in some extra income but the opportunity has never really presented itself...until now!  We have emailed back and forth, getting many of our questions answered, and met each others families in person.  They even came to check out our homeschool co-op, since I will be bringing their daughter with us.  Starting Monday, I will have this precious small blessing in our home for a few hours every day! 

What small or big blessings are you thankful for?

Something "New" - In January, I became a published columnist for the Valley Bugler newspaper.  I do a monthly homeschool column...so surprising huh!!  It's been a fun adventure and opportunity.   Here is a description of the paper taken from their Facebook page: "The Valley Bugler Newspaper is dedicated on bringing the community together with GOOD News.  Each monthly issue is full of inspirational stories, interesting articles by LOCAL columnist, contributors, and businesses, monthly features, community events, jokes, puzzles, and all of the LOCAL information that we can fit in each and every month! Fun and safe for the whole family to read! Approximately 14,000 issues printed each month and circulated throughout 4 counties and growing!"
 
Any new opportunities for you? 

Praying you are enjoying this new season upon us, hoping your school year is going well, and most of all that you are finding joy in the midst of each day and seeing God's blessings and provisions for you and your family!

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My failure is not final!

Today I failed miserably.... 

I failed to speak kindly.  I failed to have self control.  I felt to show love.

I acted impusively.  I acted selfishly.  I acted immaturely. 

I was left with regret.   I was left with remorse.   I was left wondering if I will ever get it right.

 

The reality is I have failed many times over, in one way or another, and that is not going to change.  Isn't that so encouraging?  Not really, I know. 

 

But we don't need to remain in that place of failure....it doesn't have to have the final say.  It simply leads us right back to the best position we can be in...at the feet of Jesus!   He went to the cross for our failures.  He paid the ultimate price for every single one of them.  So that we can move forward and be set free from the weight of our failures.  Now that is encouraging news!!!

 

In those moments, when I have failed to say or do the right thing, I question how God can use me?  How can I be effective for Him, when I am so...defected?



  

Was Abraham a defect?  How about King David, did he ever fail?  Was Moses without mistakes?

 

Abraham lied.  David committed adultery.  Moses murdered.

 

In Psalms 51, after David failed miserably, He cries out to God.  He humbles himself before His maker.  He turns his eyes upward.  He bends his knees downward.  He allows the sin to come outward.  His heart is made new.  He doesn't remain in his failure.

 

 

I may walk into the throne room before my King feeling like a big ol' failure,

but I walk out forgiven and clean....a brand new creation!  I walk away feeling so loved. 

 

Thank you Jesus that my failure is not final!  There is always hope in you!!  My life is full of amazing success because you are at the center of my life!

 

(P.S. - I am so thankful for friends who know me, know my heart, and point me right back to Jesus on days like today!!  What a blessing to have friends who know my failures but even more importantly know my successes!!) 

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One step at a time!

In a race there is nothing better than having people cheer you on from the sidelines.  This past Thanksgiving morning our family joined many others in the community for the annual "Turkey Trot" run.  It was a very cold morning but people came, lots and lots of people!  Everyone squeezed in near the starting line.  The announcer got on the loud speaker, "On your mark, get set, go"...we were off and running the 3.6 mile distance around the lake!  My husband was pushing our youngest in the stroller and beside him our 6 year old daughter ran.  I stayed back with our oldest one, who was 8 at the time (she's now a big 9 year old!).  She was struggling.  She kept complaining of different aches and pains.  She would jog for a few minutes then need to walk, jog for a minute, then walk again.  I strived to encourage her, "You can do this, just put one foot in front of the other, you got this!"  After what felt like a long time, we went under the final bridge and the finish line was in sight.  Up ahead, on the sidelines, I saw my husband and other 2 girls.  My 6 year old was cheering on her big sister!  "You can do it, run faster, you're almost there, keep going, faster, faster!!!" 

 

 

Back in December when I ran my first half marathon, they had volunteers stationed all throughout the race course and their job was to cheer, cheer, cheer us on!  "You got this", "Way to go", "You are doing awesome",  "You are almost done!" and on and on the cheering went!  In those moments when I felt tired and my legs felt like jello, it motivated me to keep moving forward and to take one step after another.  But there were moments, especially towards the end, when I was all alone and there was no outward voices there to cheer me on.  I had to dig deep.  It was in those moments I heard the Lord speaking to me and giving me the strength to put one foot in front of the other and not give up!"

Homeschooling can be compared to a race, a long distance race.  It is a journey of trust, stamina, perseverance, commitment, endurance, and taking one step at a time.  Being a homeschool mom does not mean you have it all together all the time. We are weak, we are imperfect, we lose our patience, and we have days we feel weary and overwhelmed. Being a homeschool mom means even more opportunities to run to Jesus, acknowledge our weakness and call out to Him for strength, perseverance, PATIENCE, and the right perspective!

God is your biggest fan and He is constantly cheering you on as you take each step, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year!  Here are some of His words of encouragement: 



 

 

 

 

 

I'm so thankful we are not alone on this homeschooling journey.  I'm so thankful that the Lord is with me step after step!  He guides me along, directs me, gives me courage, blesses me with the desires of my heart, brings freedom, rest, and pours out immeasurable grace and mercy.  He fills me with strength, power, joy, and peace for the journey!

 

 

 

 

 

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Staying Humble

 

As a blogger it could be so easy for me to choose to highlight only the good things in my life!  In only sharing the positives, I could easily paint a picture of perfection...a perfect home, perfect marriage, perfect children, and a perfect time with homeschooling.  But that is not me. 

 

I strive to be real, transparent, and vulnerable as I share my life with you.  When anyone ever makes a comment that implies my home/life is perfect I would say, "Oh if only you were a fly on my wall."  There are moments when I get ugly, mean, impatient, frustrated, stressed, and allow my flesh to make a grand appearance!  As was the case the other night.

 

As I have shared on here in the past, there have been some dark moments in my marriage.  Moments that seemed hopeless and feeling like I was standing at a dead end.  I use to allow my emotions to get the best of me and would say things and do things to be hurtful...because I felt hurt.

 

God has done a mighty work in my life, my heart, and my marriage...but every once in a while the flesh likes to poke it's ugly head up...because I'm not perfect.  A few nights ago I laid in bed, late into the night, door locked, and my husband sleeping elsewhere in the house.  I felt sick with myself.  Why did I say those words? Why did I take those actions? Why did I respond that way?

 

I thought back to earlier in the evening, to my sweet husband making me dinner after the girls were in bed (we had just filled our freezer with some beef and wanted to try out a steak).  I thought back to all his attempts to show love and affection.  I was too focused, too distracted, too busy for him.  Why do I make other things such a priority over my husband?

 

As I laid there in the bed, I thought ahead to this weekend, to a ladies retreat that I have planned and organized.  How could I show up to something like that and expect favor and blessing with any kind of ugly sin in my heart.  The Lord spoke so clearly to me, "Go to your husband, go and say your sorry, ask for forgiveness, make things right"

 

 

So I got up out of my bed and went to him.  I humbled myself and made right my wrongs (as did he!).  He held me in his arms, I cried and cried, but that heaviness was gone, that icky, yucky, dark, and all consuming feeling of sin was lifted.  We eventually returned to our bed and I fell asleep with such peace!

 

 God pursues us with such deep love but so often we ignore Him...we are too busy, too distracted, too focused, too much to do.  Why do we not make Him a priority? But yet He knows me by name and he holds his arms wide when I have yet again fallen...I run to him, I fall on my face, I repent, I cry, I ask for forgiveness and He takes me in his arms and showers me with love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, wholeness, and freedom!  I'm so thankful for a loving God who constantly does this for me, over and over again, without limits.

 

I am truly blessed...not perfect...but oh so blessed!

 

Choose humility!  Choose to lay down your pride!  Choose to put others first!  Choose to be selfless!  Are you going to fail at times?  YES!  But then choose humility again, and again, and again! 

 

 

 

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Homeschooling in 2013

 

Only a few days of Christmas break are remaining before we start back up with schooling.  I wanted to share a word that I hope brings you encouragement as you homeschool in 2013.

As I look back over the past few years of homeschooling my girls, I can see change, so much change in myself.  I started out being what I call a "research queen".  I pretty much spent all my free time checking out and familiarizing myself with every different kind of homeschool curriculum available, reading homeschooling blogs, homeschooling books, and homeschool magazines.  Not that any of those things are bad (thank you for taking time to read my homeschooling blog), but for me it was all consuming.  I spent a lot of time looking into ALL my options as I wanted the very best for my children.  I felt this huge weight on my shoulders, that it was entirely up to me and me alone to provide my girls with the very best education I could.   

I was also very structured and rigid.  Our entire day was written out on an hour by hour schedule.   There was also a lot of "butting heads" with my oldest and many frustrating moments (side note:  I love it when people say, "Oh I could never ever homeschool my child because we would butt heads all the time"....hello I think many homeschool parents encounter this sort of thing).  I was trying to be in control of everything!!  The Lord began showing me how I needed to release things to Him and not try and micro-manage and stress over all the day to day details.  I needed to put my trust in God completely, especially in the area of homeschooling.  He began to show me how to "Step Off The Beaten Path" and focus on the unique goals and vision He was calling me to in homeschooling, not a formula or a standard that our world says education should be and look like.  I began to slowly let go of the control, the expectations, the worry, and trying to imitate what I thought it needed to look like.

 

So the biggest change has been in me surrendering all those things to the Lord.  I didn't need to be constantly researching the latest and greatest curriculum (though I am thankful for where my researching has brought me too!), I didn't need a minute by minute schedule, and I didn't have to be at odds constantly with my children.  The Lord was calling me to a relationship based homeschool atmosphere not an academic one.  I also didn't need to prove myself and my ability to teach or prove that my children are socialized and intelligent "despite" being homeschooled to anyone.  I needed to trust and obey what the Lord was asking of me!   

So homeschool mom, are you trusting, truly trusting the Lord as you homeschool?  Is He ultimately in control or are you?  Are you doing things to please man or God?  Are you worried about impressing others or doing things to "prove" you can successfully homeschool your kids?  Are you constantly trying to micro manage everyone and everything?   Is there alot of tension, frustration, and stress in your home?   Are you always on the look out for the "perfect" curriculum for your family, but can't ever seem to find it?  It doesn't have to be that way! 

If I had to put into one word what I want 2013 to be about it would be: TRUST!!  I pray that in 2013 there would be freedom, joy and TRUST in your homeschooling journey!

Trust God with the bigger things and focus more on enjoying the little things this year!  The moments when your child crawls in bed for an early morning snuggle, the laughter you hear from the other room, putting on a tea party and inviting some friends over (I have girls so this is what we do!), listening as your child goes on and on and on about something, sweet hugs and kisses, reading God's word to your kids or better yet hearing them read it to you for the first time, seeing your child humble themselves and ask for forgiveness, running to greet daddy when he gets home from work, seeing the light bulb come on for your child as they finally grasp something you have been teaching them!  There are so many precious little moments in the day to grab ahold of and enjoy!  

 

  Focus on relationship and discipleship above anything else! Give yourself permission to relax! Ask the Lord to show you how to reach the heart of your child who you have struggles with and seem to clash with. Seek to understand more clearly the direction, vision, and goals the Lord would have you to focus on with your children.  There is no cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to homeschooling....so choose above all else to trust the Lord in whatever He may be calling you to do or not to do in 2013!

 

 

 

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