DAY DREAMS & HEART HOPES

2011-07-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Father's Day June 2011

One more time...

2011-07-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

I've been mighty discouraged over these past couple months in my homeschool... struggles & challenges are getting the best of our "academics." Planning for the fall is on the forefront of each day as I search out what may be the best option/plan for the coming fall. Looking at what the world says... trying to hear God's voice in the midst of that - gets my mind in a tailspin! Some of the options look appealing & have the 'answer' to my weariness but really just add to my human nature in failing to rely more on God's strength.

This AM as I was finally "GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS!!!" browsing the options, Googling, looking at opinions & curriculum I knew I'd been on here long enough & decided to read my short "Live Loved" devotional by Max Lucado.
Here's an excerpt from it:
Give grace, one more time. Be generous, one more time. Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke....
Sometimes it seems as if we have more struggles than strength. We are tempted to quit. When that happens, Lord, remind us to endure for one more day, to be patient one more time, to serve without reward for one more season. I have made, (i.e. our children) & I will bear (i.e. the load of homeschooling) even I will carry,( i.e. the weight of the future!) and will deliver you. (i.e. FREEDOM when we know He is our Deliverer!) Isaiah 46:4 (the examples God gave me in this devotional - you can insert your own!)

I share this with the hope of encouraging you today - whatever your homeschool for the fall may look like! I know each of our families is deciding different things but want you to know I am praying for you today in your choices. A saying Dan & I continue to ponder in our "wise" age: Today's choices WILL determine our tomorrow, & it reminds me that we can't go back - & at the end James 4 talks about our unknowns in 'tomorrow & being a vapor' - oh how I am praying our Lord's will over all our choices... curriculum, classes, school,...we shall live, doing this or that...

Spring bulbs and more snow in the forecast...

2011-04-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's April! In fact today April 27th. With only 3 more days in the month, can the weather man be right about snow again tomorrow? We've had it twice this month.
Last Spring the kids and I went to Mt Vernon to see the tulips and we purchased some. Here are some of the beauties we picked!

5...0... just a number...

2011-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

that's what people keep saying to me! It has a dreadful feeling/sound about it... Like life is more than 1/2 done. (My Gramp will be 99 in July and still lives and drives on his own!) This 50th birthday I just tried not to celebrate, is pretty tough. I'm asking myself, "Have you done it well?... only for Christ so that it will last?"

I know things in my life that look "Christ-like" but when thinking what I did and do that aren't, it gets ya in the heart! This reflecting is a normal part of growing old, almost as if I'm seeing my life pass by as watching a race in slow-motion. Dan continually reminds me there is no living in regret (a genetic trait I fight against.) But as I sit and do life in the same routine ways of teaching my children every day with still many more to go, the weariness gets the best of me if I don't look at God's Promises.

Yesterday while doing Bible & Anatomy with my lambs, (Oh - Apologia Anatomy ROCKS! ) completing our study of the eye, Psalm 32:8 was I will instruct you and teach you in the way your should go; I will guide you with My eye.

How awesome to think that God has been seeing my life pass before His eye! Oh He is so Faithful!
Thank You, God, for keeping your eyes on my comings and goings... my doings and wanderings that have kept me safe & secure from myself! Your Vision is so much clearer and knowing You are watching over me, baffles my tiny finite vision! Oh You are Good!

Mama to 5... ( really 7!)

2010-11-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

Danielle & her family Oct. 2010
Ted and his 2nd buck. It's been 13 years since his 1st.
April w/ the girls at Molbak's Dec. 2010

Keeps me too busy to blog... so pictures of my 5 will be it for today.

Grace is 15, Isaiah 13 1/2 and Ezekiel is 9 October 2010

BUSY BLESSED WORLD!

2010-11-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Gramma to 5 Grand-Princesses 6 1/2, 4, 3, 21 mos. & 2 mos. Oct. & Nov. 2010

Sponsor a Child - Compassion

2010-06-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sponsor a Child - Compassion

Patrick Coffie - age 9 lives in the

2010-06-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

coastal community of Anyaa,GHANA - home to approximately 15,700 residents. Common health problems in this area include malaria, skin rashes, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS. Half of the adults in Anyaa are unemployed but some work as market traders and earn the equivalent of $20 per month. Patrick's father is a "petty trader."

A letter came yesterday telling us that our Patrick's mother died yesterday. "Our project staff has not indicated the cause of death."

A REAL feeling came into my heart. So many times sponsorship seems surreal... as though it is just a normal part of our blessed life. Something we "should" do. A routine - like a payment. Upon receiving this news that I think is 2 months old - something changed.

We've been priveledged to sponsor him and Kisuze (age 14 from Uganda) for almost 5 years. Ezekiel is the most faithful to pray for our 3 children. We have Magie Sincere now 15, was our 1st, when she was 6.5 from Uganda. Each time I write I think how trivial our words are to these precious children who know nothing of material wealth. We don't know what to write as it seems like any thing is as if we are boasting. We have so much - what could we say that would be of a fresh encouragement?

I've just begun reading "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision and know that the timing of my heart changing and being challenged is all a part of God's perfect timing to once again MOVE ME! We, in the American Church as Stearns says, "is the wealthiest community of Christians in the history of Christendom." What is "living a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God?"

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would soften this old aging soul - set in it's comfortable ways... Oh that I will daily see the photos of our 3 sponsored children and not make it so trivial a prayer - a payment - an act. BUT that You oh Lord, would let Your great love that does not consume, increase my compassions so that they would begin to never fail. Because Your's are NEW every morning and so very great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3) Let it be to these children today... and especially to Patrick Coffie right now - In Jesus Hope-filled Name, Amen.

Link to Ghana via Compassion Int.
Prayer Requests

Opinion, I agree whole-heartedly with

2010-06-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

and found to be true with our 1st two children...
(Click on Title to read great article about community college & entering early)

Grace's 1st High Point Show

2010-05-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

My profound thought for yesterday...

2010-05-25T17:05:00.001-07:00

Growing up has been fun (even through the hard times now that I can look back on them.) But this "getting old" thing, I'm just not seeing the fun in it at all!

A piece of advice I'm heeding on this Monday...

2010-05-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

"... if you homeschool - your children MUST BE obedient and compliant otherwise you will not have the control you need which will cause you to "NOT" be able to guide, direct, and make them overall do their work, leading to an unsuccessful attempt which will likely end in failure - (sorry to be so blunt but this is serious business), their failure means that their future is affected negatively, closing doors of opportunity in their teen and adult life, and possibly even sending them to find "bad things" to help them cope, or even getting in with other "failed" people ending up in the "wrong crowd." One element that you have mentioned that demonstrates that homeschooling will likely not work, is that your child "won't do sports" showing that your child has "control" and in this situation the parent MUST be the one in control."
From Susie
www.TruNorthMusic.com

GOD's PURPOSES for yourself & your children

2010-05-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Have you read any of the Thomas Jefferson education books? http://www.tjed.org/ I got them from our library and enjoyed the philosophy. In a time when our country seems to be erring in education and politics - I want to do my part to encourage my children and others to look at our TRUE history, heritage and teach our children about the great leaders who went before us in times of hardship. As our last 2 sons have learning struggles I can lose my VISION, get discouraged in thinking that they won't or can't be leaders. I must remind myself daily: GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH of US!

Directing my children in a PURPOSE THAT WILL BRING GOD GLORY is my homeschool goal. As He has placed desires, talents, motivations and gifts in each one of us - my aim as mama-teacher is to help my children discover them so they can be God fearing, Christ centered, responsible and independent adults.

Our 2 daughters are very artistic - 1 from my womb & 1 through adoption. Our now 28 year old created and sold the wood crafts she designed, cut out and painted in bazaars by age 12. By 11 had consistent paying babysitting positions. This month she will end/close her 2 successful preschools when they are finished for the school year, as they will have 3 daughters under 3 in Aug. 2010. She got her ECE and AA degree by 20 She interned at our mega church's children's ministry, employed there after that, spent 3 months in an orphanage in India, worked in a Christian school preschool and then ran her own preschools. (She also has no high school diploma - a concern for some homeschool families but it hasn't hurt her in any way.)

Our very artistic 14 year old sells her WoolyWoofs (see at http://woolywoofs.blogspot.com/ or Etsy or Facebook)
on her own and in a local store. She receives special orders and as 1 person purchases one, another order comes in. She gives horse riding lessons to younger girls at our barn.

When our children dream - they need to see that dreams can become reality. They need to get a chance to be entrepreneurs! We don't spend a lot on curriculum but invest in things that will encourage our children's interests. We go to the library or bookstore to get books & DVDs on the subjects that they're inquiring about. Any ways we can encourage their God given dreams & let them soar! We must build & encourage a 'working' heart/mind/body in a day in age when many youth are unmotivated to do anything but play video games. We need more Christian led self-employed businesses!

I leave The Purpose Driven Life where I can easily read little blurbs from it as encouragement for me and my children. Even though it seems like we have no idea what direction we should go with our homeschooling or directing our young - we can TRUST that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US! I love Romans 8 from The Message - That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Have a super day - dreaming & "entrepreneur-ing" with your children!

Suffering - a "Sullivan Crisp" perspective

2010-03-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

I've read the 3 Sullivan Crisp Novels by Nancy Rue & Stephen Arterburn. Loving Christian fiction as a way of escape, (& longer than a movie,) their books have been intriguing because they have a twist of a Christian counselor who is working his way through his own pain to help others be delivered from theirs.
In book 2, Healing Waters (which won Novel of the Year from Women of Faith,) Sullivan Crisp states:
I've posed the question: 'Why God, if You are such a loving being and You care about every bit of toe jam and belly button lint that affects us' - I think the Bible says that much more poetically - 'why, then, do You allow suffering?' It's a question most of us have asked, especially in our own personal moments of misery. I don't have the answer yet, because I think that I, at least, have been directing my query to the wong place. Rather than asking God, why not put the question to Suffering itself? When Suffering grabs me by the heart, as long as we're that close why not take the opportunity to say, "What's your deal? What's this about" Since we're spending so much time together, can't I ask, 'Look what do you want from me? What can I do to get you to leave me alone?' Or better yet, 'What do I have to stop doing so you can heal me?" Some of you may think this is blasphemous, but I'm not going for the shock factor. I know this to be true: since we cannot eliminate suffering in this world, we must have relationship with it, because God apparently does. Rather than merely hate it - which we have every reason to do at times - or try to eliminate it completely, which we can't do - we have to get to know it, as it so intimately knows us. That is truth. Where that takes us, we have yet to find out. And Father - please, please, let me."

For the suffering that many are enduring right now - I am praying Our Faithful Father to give you His peace that can pass any of our understanding...

Identity... who am I?

2010-01-28T08:31:00.000-08:00

Child of God's
wife
Redeemed
mother
Saved from hell
pray-ER
teacher - homeschooler
friend

Identity. Identify with.
Who am I?
Who do people think that I am?

Today while showering (again when I could blog my best thoughts,) I was thinking about how my last 3 children know a different mom than my first 2. The above list hasn't changed much over my almost 30 years of being a married adult. But when I think of who I was and to who I feel I am today - it just has a totally different look.

I used to love to move furniture, paint a room, wallpaper a wall, lead worship, stencil a border, sew a dress, bake cookies, host a party, do the music at a wedding, add an extra family to the dinner table, babysit an extra child, teach Sunday School, clean the house in an hour and on a weekly basis, and so the list could go on! A changer and a doer ... I was.

I used to be such a multi-tasker. When I got a great idea - I did it. Today when my ideas begin... they may not even go any place further than my head or heart.

Today, what a different woman I am. When I know what I need to do, what I have to do, and what I want to do... I come and sit at the computer and don't get any of it done.

These last three will know me as quite the shopper, Gramma Candy, Gramma Kiss, reader, computer sitter... seems like I've become quite the vegetable in my aged years.

But at least that first list hasn't changed and what God sees me as - His Own - I am not my own, I was bought with a price (I Corinthians 6 and again in Chapter 7) - I want to honor God in ALL I do! So I better get going today and DO it!

Understanding TRUST...

2010-01-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

Seems like it's my theme lately as last week a fine young husband & father of 3 beautiful daughters, was taken by a freak accident. Now this week the Haitian earthquake and then AGAIN in our small community - a friend's precious baby grandson's life was stolen by SIDS.
Oh for grace to TRUST Him more - I keep singing the line of that hymn over and over.
In Nov. 08 - I wrote part of the words and here I am in Jan. 2010 still singing it. The last verse says:
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Oh how I am clinging to my Faithful Father, knowing that His Word holds the promises for life that we so desperately need. The same questions keep coming up and the exact answers may be hard to find but I know my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge— Ps. 147:8

Colossians 1 - from The Message

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...asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard... As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. From Col 1: 9 - read the rest through vs 18 from The Message

My Precious GRAND- Princesses

2009-12-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

CHRISTmas 09...

2009-12-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

What should I get for _______? What should I make to eat for that party? Should we buy ______ 1 more gift? In the middle of night in the midst of hormonal heat or 3 AM menopausal insomnia - the questions of Christmas rear up.
Oh I am so thankful for our Immanuel - God with us, GOD WITH ME - gives confidence that even in the silliest of uncertainty NOT to give way to anxiety or fear…
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers — most of which are never even seen — don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? ... RELAX, don't be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:33-34 (The Message)
Oh how I love that part steep my life in God-reality! Isn't it just assurance that no matter what we're going through - mental pain, physical despair, financial upheaval, uncertainty of our country's government - God wants us to rest in Immanuel! How very thankful I am this Christmas that God sent His One and Only Son through whom all things came and through whom I live! (I Cor. 8:6) That is CHRISTmas!

the cabin...

2009-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

wanting to invest in a piece of property that our family could enjoy - bigs and littles - we found this charming little place on 7 acres on the Methow. It is just too peaceful for words... and a delightful tubin' trip down to Papa's cabin too! Worst part is our very UNWANTED guests that we can't seem to rid the place of. Maybe that's why they sold?
Overall though - the memories that we have in the Methow over all the years and now to think that we own a little piece gives us gratitude once again of our Heavenly Father's outpouring upon us!

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Watching God work His purpose in our adult children's lives...

2009-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

God's goodness & faithfulness are so evident in our oldest one's life! Danielle began a small preschool out of her home last year, and now this school year is also running another one in town. God's fruit of patience is incredible in her! With 2 little princesses 14 months apart - Danielle is continually on the go! I pray He continues to give her all the strength, joy, and peace she needs! He is her strength!

Grace is 14!

2009-10-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Where did the years go? Just a moment ago I remember walking into a very small community hospital in SanClemente - peering thru the crack in the curtain window - KNOWING that this little princess in the plastic bed was our daughter! The joy and excitement are indescribable! To ponder God's full purpose is in her life brings me to more excitement over His gift to us in her... His Grace is Amazing!

IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN…

2009-10-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this from another friend's blog since I have the VIVID illustrations to go with it...some 25 years plus with how many more to go??? ... better start scrapbooking!

IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN…

If you give a mom a muffin,
She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She’ll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She’ll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she’ll find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook (”101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger”).
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old’s diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are…
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

by Kathy Fictorie

HE IS A GREAT GOOD GOD - no matter what!

2009-09-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling with the "bounty" we've been living in and wondering when will life go down again since the metals market is like that & familiar to what I've watched all my life in the scrap business.

My insight this AM is was spurred by Beth Moore's Stepping Up study:
when I felt secure I said, I will never be shaken, O Lord, when You favored ME, You made MY mountain stand firm, but when You hid Your face, I was dismayed. (Ps. 30:6-7)
Beth says on page 69 of the workbook, David was the first to ascribe his prosperity to the Lord, but somewhere along the way he mistakenly placed his security in the blessing of God rather than God Himself. We often know enough not to ascribe our security to carnal, worldy things. Our greater and slyer temptation is to place our security in the blessings we readily credit to the Lord.

In my questioning over these bounty years I've declared - I want to be content in Christ like a marriage - in richer for poorer. I know what it was like to have $2 in my checking and hope that the $22 check for the phone bill didn't clear.

Beth goes on to say, Even if our security is in something God has given us - our gifts, talents, loved ones,...consistent victory, passion for His Word - our seemingly secure mountain ultimately will fall into the sea. ... If our trust is in manifestations of God's favor rather than God Himself, we will crumble like dry clay when He calls us to walk a distance of our journeys entirely by faith and not by sight.... Mountain-like security only comes from trusting God, not what He's done for us or given us, however glorious and eternal those things may be... The difference between trusting God and trusting what God has done is fine line we can easily trip over... unknowingly let our security slip from God Himself to His manifest favor.

Being apart of a "word faith" church in the 80's, in the "name it and claim it" or you just don't have enough faith, I'm cautious to proclaim the blessings of God. I think I just got a grasp on what I am to proclaim!
I TRUST GOD! HE IS GOOD! MY SECURITY IS IN MY STRONG GOD!

In this economic shaking, we experienced scrap prices going from the highest they'd ever been to not even being able to sell-to the present stable again - how can I not praise my Good God! But when bad things happen to God's people and I want to question God? Is He still the same - yesterday, today and forever? If I end up with cancer - is my God still the Good God that I proclaim Him to be? Do we boast in our God when things in our life are difficult or can we say with security - I will not be shaken! ... that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent! O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to You forever! (Ps. 30:6 & 11-12)

Family Pictures

2009-07-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

THE BOYS

THE GIRLS

THE SCRAP

What a precious time with our family! Stephanie was awesome and patient and the perfect photographer for our family!
http://stephaniestremlerphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/dan-cris-family-session.html

Our WA homeschool privilege...

2009-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

I've been getting those concerned questions about homeschooling as I do at the end of each year with parents considering the fall. Just like schools, we MUST plan ahead as we make decisions about our childrens' futures. I ponder and go back and forth in our own homeschool convictions. I realize more nowadays how unique each child is and what each one needs, wants, and requires.
So I thought I'd post some current thoughts.

High School - I've seen this lovely lady speak at conventions. She sums up my heart in just this little YouTube video & her 5 points listed underneath. I enjoy her blog too! Her most recent "Never Compare" is so timely!http://www.thehomescholar.com/5mistakessignup.php

Homeschool/ home-based instruction vs. Alternative Learning Experience Implementation Standards
After 1 yr. in our local parent partnership - I can now have an opinion:
We were off-site with 1 child and on-site with 2 - one took 3 classes the 2nd semester, and the other quit classes after the 1st semester. We had excellent homeschool moms as teachers of the classes the boys took. We chose them for that reason! Our son who took the 3 classes has some friends he really enjoyed while there.

A student's status in the district changes once enrolled in a parent-partnership and are no longer considered BY THE STATE OF WA - homeschooled/home-based. If you were to take a class like band or choir you file the same enrollment form with them. There are other forms with our PPP, though I signed one (which I think may have changed now,) saying we homeschool 99% - it gave me home-based freedoms and we were not subjected to testing ie WASL, but children are enrolled in the school district. Parents are listed as the primary teacher and you set up a yearly Student Learning Plan including learning goals and books/materials used for each child's year of school. Then monthly you report your child's progress in each of those classes you are teaching, affirm that hours spent learning both on-site and off-site were met. Weekly you are under the direct supervision of a certificated teacher for each child and the individual weekly contact method that you 'surrender' to. You must meet these requirements in order to receive state funds. Those monies were appreciated but here is where my opinion becomes just that. Freedom comes at a cost. Though we pay almost $40,000 in property taxes - could I be effecting the outcome of homeschooling and it's future in the state of WA? Maybe this will have no effect to the overall changes that our SPI may have in mind. But I am reminded that we are so blessed to have the freedoms we do in our state.

For us - I am glad to be "free" once again.

2009-05-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day, Dear Mama Friends!

A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking.

It never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking. - Helen Rice

This brought me back to an earlier reading with Grace, our 13 year old, this week from Beautiful Girlhood, a book that came out in the early 1900's revised by Karen Andreola, the chapter was titled "Ideals." So I am writing away my ideals and put up a huge disclaimer that I have failed and been impatient. (And for those who know me, there is a huge lost and failed love story in my life 3 years ago this month.)

As a perfectionist with very high ideals, it feels as if my love fails & falters time and time again. My actions are all but loving. But that's the beauty of love. It is not based on what I feel. As Dan and I are going through The Love Dare we are brought to continual reminders of scripture and thinking of the phileo and eros type loves. But God wants us to have agape love. God doesn't love us because we're so lovable but "He loved us while we were sinners!" That's when Christ died for us!

I can say: be true, be noble, aim high and God willl give strength to us as moms, wives, friends, & followers of Christ! I stand on the Word of God and say that He wants me to "do it ALL for the glory of God!" I therefore, will ever be trying to live my life by His Word - AIMING HIGH! I want to strive to reach God's goals & purposes for my life for His glory!

When our children let us down by their behaviors, choices, and even their own personality differences that challenge our standards - 'loving' is an action. American psychiatris M. Scott Peck says “Love is not a feeling. Love is an action, an activity. . .Genuine love implies commitment and the exercise of wisdom. . . . love as the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth.....true love is an act of will that often transcends ephemeral feelings of love or cathexis, it is correct to say, 'Love is as love does'.”

Times when love is challenged and at 48 with 2 adult married children and 3 children left at home plus 4 beautiful grand-daughters, shaking in the love happens. I have been goverened by hormornes or not enough sleep or severe life issues - our ideals can spiral just because we are overcome by life struggles. But as I am aging and filled with the knowledge of the Word when I am weak - He IS strong!

Ideals shape our lives and what a sad state of affairs our U.S.A. is today because parents, employers, pastors, teachers - haven't kept the 'bar' raised. Ideals take effort and we will have to work to be patient and forgiving. We will aspire to not give up when there are the challenges and trials that will shake our love.

"...the truly ideal life is one lived for God. A life that does not in word and deed reflect the life and teachings of Christ fails that much in being ideal." Beautiful Girlhood

My GRAND Princesses

2009-05-06T09:27:00.001-07:00

April 2009

"...lift up holy hands in prayer." I Timothy 2:8

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Yesterday, the kids & I, in our daily reading of The American Patriot's Almanac, read:
~1775 - 2nd Constitutional Congress set aside a day for Americans to pray to "be ever under the care and protection of a kind Providence" as they began the struggle for independence.
~1863 President Lincoln proclaimed "a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer" to help the country get through "the awful calamity of civil war" and for "the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country to its former happy condition of unity and peace."
~1952 President Truman & Congress established a National Day of Prayer as a yearly event. Truman called for a day "on which all of us, in our churches, in our homes, and in our hearts may beseech God to grant us wisdom to know the course which we should follow, and strength and patience to pursue that course steadfastly."
~1988 President Regan designated the 1st Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer - urging Americans to ask God for "His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our Nation our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always."

Today I find out:
The Obama administration has announced there will not be a White House observance for the National Day of Prayer this year."We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration," said Mrs. Shirley Dobson, chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."

The White House has indicated it will release a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday. The National Observance will take place from 9 a.m. to noon EDT, as Dr. and Mrs. Dobson, Beth Moore and others gather in Washington, D.C., to pray for America.
58th Annual ObservanceThursday, May 7, 2009
http://www.ndptf.org/

2009-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

He is MY King!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trPPAcvK8_8

...this is the life

2009-03-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Cheri Keaggy did a concert at our church some 15 years ago, and something she said will ever remain in my SAHMama brain -"laundry is like God's love ... never-ending." No matter how many times I say it as I fold the 2 or 3 loads a day, I can't help but think what kind of Heavenly Father would never complain when I give Him a heap load of my dirties? What kind of Savior removes the stains so that they are never to be seen again? What kind of Holy Spirit softens my heart each AM with His new tender mercies? So when it seems that I've been doing laundry for some 30 plus years... dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 1:20 21

My favorite part of our homeschool day...

2009-02-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

I love reading to our children. It is amazing how a book brings in a 'presence' that calms a PMSing mama or an upset child. Here are some great quotes about reading I enjoyed this AM.

"Today a reader,
Tomorrow a leader."
~ Margaret Fuller ~

When I was about eight, I decided that the most wonderful thing, next to a human being, was a book. ~ Margaret Walker ~

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen ~

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.

~ Lady Mary Wortley Montagu ~

There is no substitute for books in the life of a child. ~ Mary Ellen Chase ~

A room without books is like a body without a soul. ~ Marcus T. Cicero ~

Never judge a book by its movie. ~ J. W. Eagan ~

Books are not men and yet they stay alive.~ Stephen Vincent Benet ~

Books are not made for furniture,but there is nothing else

that so beautifully furnishes a house.~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

What are you reading to your children?

Toppling Hats...

2009-02-17T07:27:00.000-08:00

...daughter... sister... friend... worshipper... bookkeeper... wife... lover... house-keeper... mama... teacher... mama-in-law... gramama... and feeling like there just couldn't be another hat to wear - but when it arrives - I will declare: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God IS the Strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73: 26

Out of control...

2009-01-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

and not liking it! Internal dread is what overtakes my spirit for too many months in the rainy, gray Pacific Northwest Corner. (and why I took great joy in the snow days we just had!) This is the worst we've ever experienced living on the Ten Mile Creek for the past 14 years. Bringing serious case of the "crankies" to the homeowners, when all you can do is think about your 'investment.'
Word spoken to me this AM by the Holy Spirit was Matthew 6:19-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where MOLD & MILDEW (my paraphrase) do not destroy... for where your treasure is, there your will your heart be.

I've imagined we would sell a home well cared for....that 100 years from now (if Jesus doesn't return,) our place would be a future homestead some family would take delight in. (Especially the Nooksack River rock fireplace.) Because I love old houses and building this 14 years ago, went against my nature.
There are parts of the flooding that are very 'awesome!' I guess, realizing there is NOTHING you can do about it! Powerless! Before an All-Powerful God - THE Creator of weather!
I am mindful that God said in Genesis 9:11 never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. But I guess I kinda took that outta' context.
So when our dreams of home & hearth... heart & home... feels too hopeless... I must say:
Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my Hope is in You. Ps. 25:20-21

Beatrix & JOY!

2009-01-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday as many of us began our homeschool 'schedules,' some of us just weren't ready to go at it with all our hearts. Great joyfulness each AM, is how I wish to start each day, so looking for new ways to inspire my weary hands and old 'homeschool' mom mind, God does give small incentives - if I open my heart to them.
Over the holidays, I "re-fell" in love with Beatrix Potter as I watched the movie, Miss Potter. (Oh, she was a grand woman!) Then yesterday our local homeschool newsletter came and had her following quote below.
Thank goodness I was never sent to school;
it would have rubbed off some of the originality. Beatrix Potter

- I will face today with joy in each one of my originals God created!

Resolutions, intentions, a new year...

2009-01-05T08:21:00.000-08:00

No new resolutions: Having a new month with a new year change just doesn't prompt me to make them. Goals can be a good motivation but when we don't meet them, do we beat ourselves up with our failings?

Daily, and maybe it's why I love mornings, I recall the scripture and love the verses in Lamentations 3:22-24:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."

LIFE Verses...

2008-12-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

How I love the Living Word of God! So over the years I've taken scripture and called certain ones MINE. I love to give scripture in different ways to family and friends in small and big ways. I've found and purchased or created wall signs, T-shirts, mugs, embroidered, made up great posters from Costco like this one with pictures of my kids and Grands taking Ephesians 2:10 we're God's workmanship, created in Jesus to do good works that God prepared in advance for us to do. It's a super and inexpensive gift for the person (parents) who have everything.

My life verse that I want to live out is found in Micah 6:8 where NIV says: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. I love that His Word tells me just what He expects me to do in this life! Have I wrestled with living it out? You betcha! But I can sing it (as it's been put to at least 3 tunes that I know) and remind myself how He calls me to live. This is a "primitive" sign that I made and hangs in our reading room.

When I began to homeschool 20 years ago, I placed this scripture in a few different places and we memorized it, quoting it as a heart check often. We call it our family verse: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:29-31

What a challenge to just live it out among the immediate family of 4 then adding more children, kids spouses, plus extended family... WOW - who is our neighbor? Can we love God even more than we do? It's been stenciled and moved it and last year I found a vinyl cutter to order "my" words, sayings and verses on Etsy at

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5746922

Some would say that a life verse should be something you're living out, not something that you try to walk out. I'm just thankful that these verses make us mindful how ALIVE His Living Word truly is!

So for our marriage, I tried to figure out the one that did speak our relationship. It feels one-sided, and that wouldn't be MY side. Dan has lived this one out in a HUGE way over our 28.5 years of marriage. We had a lovely sign made up by Nestlings on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=23140 I ordered one of these as a gift for my parents' 50th anniversary with their "marriage verse" on it too. (It says the year established thru the name in a lighter font if you can't see it here.)
It is taken from Ephesians 5: 1 & 2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Dan has been the sweet aroma when I've been absolutely foul rotten stench!

For years I have loved Colossians 1:9-12 for my sweetest of friends and Eugene Peterson in The Message put it into the perfect words:
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

To find the verses that you hope and pray to speak "your life" are a great way to begin 2009. I want to walk in the Living Word. I want to speak the Living Word. I want to live out the Living Word! It is LIFE!

Simple Pleasures in Life...

2008-12-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

RiceKrispy Treats & hot air popped popcorn (with REAL butter) ... &

nothing is better when having a GRAND-daughter help you make them and EAT them!

Over-Indulging parents...

2008-12-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Yes we are! But Daddy set up a contract to make the commitment concrete...

and Grace paid for 1/2...
Macy - is a 9 week old doll of a pup, only 1 week home with us - so the chewing, picking up messes, and repeated "DOWN!" and "NO" as she greets our precious GRAND girls is just beginning to feel like "haven't we been here and done this a few too many times!"
Why do we make more jobs for ourselves as parents?!
Oh for the love of giving to the ones we love...

Thankful for homeschooling FREEDOMS!!!

2008-11-29T10:14:00.000-08:00

This fall we began a new program for our boys that is funded by the public school system. Since we've been homeschooling for 20 plus years, there was a dramatic war that went on inside of me deciding to do this.
We'll begin to lose our freedoms to the government because I'm entering into this.
We haven't...yet!
Our 13 year old is what the program calls "off-site" - not taking any classes they offer. We have to reply (report) to an advisor via email each week, along with the other curriculum planning/reporting of hours/progress reports. It hasn't been too much of a biggie except they do try to "suggest" what you should do, how to "grade," how to etc....

So in light of this month's Social Studies focus they are asking us to email about,I must share how God orchestrates our homeschool. (I can't really share that with the district office!) We very loosely study where ever our read alouds take us. We began an adult biography last spring called Nine Lives & Running and will be finishing it this week. This fall, I got an excellent Christian kids historical fiction titled Escape to Liechetenstein at a convention because a little girl at a vendor said it was good. (She didn't tell me what it was about.) We just finished that terrific book! As we looked at Grace's curriculum in August, we found it calls for her to read The Hiding Place this year, which I'm very eager to read for the 4th or 5th time.
Now this past Tuesday before Thanksgiving day, we were privileged to hear a local Jewish woman speak of her life during the Holocaust; being taken as a young girl; losing her mother, baby brother, younger sister, and grandmother to their murder as they were separated and she was pointed to the Auschwitz line; her life in captivity; escaping; then her escape from Hungary with her husband & 2 boys to freedom in the U.S.
This is a God-given opportunity & blessing we get to experience time & time again as homeschoolers. It's not coincidence that our natural studies and being open to flexing our schedule are reasons we are thankful for homeschooling today - learning everyday.

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus..."

2008-11-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

just to take Him at His Word; just to rest upon His promise, and to know, Thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more! Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease; just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, and joy and peace. I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; and I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end." Louisa M. R. Stead, c. 1850-1917

Wikipedia says :Trust is a relationship of reliance. A trusted party is presumed to seek to fulfill policies, ethical codes, law and their previous promises. Trust does not need to involve belief in the good character, vices, or morals of the other party. Persons engaged in a criminal activity usually trust each other to some extent... Trust is a statement about what is otherwise unknown --

Can you imagine life without a relationship of reliance? I certainly can't.

In these uncertain times of national and international uncertainties to think about what trust means - I am so glad I can sing that hymn with great confidence in my relationship of reliance upon Jesus!

~ To know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is in control

~ His position is NEVER up for a vote

~ He holds the future of my life and the family and friends I hold dear

~ He cares about all the details of my life

~ He will NEVER leave me or forsake me

~ He loves the WORLD!

My trust in Him is KNOWN by His character because He fulfills His Promises... His Word is our reliance.

Joy... FIND IT!

2008-08-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

Since my middle name is JOY - oh I wish that my face overflowed with it at all times.
This AM I look in the mirror - the lines seem to be taking over. Are they looking like frown lines - a clown... going down? Where are the upwards ones that show I really do smile? And I even got "Best Smile" my sophmore year in high school.

Ps. 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Over the years it seems like JOY must come from deeper places inside that are hard to find on some long days. As years go by so quickly the days seem so long...

I Thess. 2: 19 & 20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

I WILL find that joy in the Presence of Almighty Father! He is my JOY! Oh for the day when my face won't reflect the lines... just God's shining presence!

What's in your suitcase?

2008-08-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

One of my own favorite analogies as our older 2 have left home & in helping others manage through that stage of life:
We all have luggage we head out the door with as we leave home & set out on our own journey. (Some call it baggage, but at 47 that description doesn't make me want to pick it up!) We give our children a piece with a lot that is hanging out the seams and Boy! I sure hope my young adult children have rollers on those big ones! They'll choose to throw some of it away. They'll keep some of it. They'll pick up new things of their own to fill their carry-on - making sure it fits in the compartments on each part of the trip is always the trouble there. They have a backpack that is filled w/ genes. (A God designed and put-together piece - totally out of our control.) So they have their armload of duffles, totes, and garment bags - that will help and hinder them live on this road. What was your luggage like when you left home? And now - in my case almost 30 years later - how has that luggage changed? Now what is the 1 thing I want with me every step down that path and how can I make sure that 1 thing is what my children take with them as they walk out the door? GOD and His revealed Word! How can we live without IT?!?! CJT 2006

Dreams... musts...time

2008-08-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. Ecclesiastes 5:7

Today - words seem very meaningless. My dreams are pouring.

I want to do this ________ and I wish I had time to do _________ and I should do _________... As I did our company's books, baked, laundry, still need to vacuum, fold clothes, mop floors, and dust - how I can find time to stand and worship my mighty God!?!

So little time... much time slipping away... and I just want to take a nap! My husband talks often of time being our biggest asset. Rick Warren writes "you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life."

Father -- increase my time today. Let me give Your gift of life & time away to those I love with a cheerful heart. Let me love 'in time!' Let me sing Your faithfulness and love as I desire to worship You with all that I do....