Mommy Wars

I just got back from taking my now 4 year old to the doctor. It was nice to hear that she is healthy and doing well developmentally. And yes, she had her 4 year old vaccinations. I also had a nice chat with the doctor about food and nutrition, exercise and growth charts. I love my daughter. And I want her to grow up healthy.

But I read so many blogs, listen to other homeschool mothers, go to homeschool conferences, listen to podcasts, and I can’t help but think at times that I’m failing my kids. I don’t cook fancy nutritious meals every night. I don’t even know what some of those ingredients are in a “healthy” cook book. I’m not Martha Stewart with a super clean house and making awesome crafts with my children each week. I allow my kids to eat high-fructose corn syrup and sugar. We all drink out of plastic cups. I put my babies in the nursery as soon as I could. (I even did it while still in the hospital!)

Shhhhh – Surrender is a Bad Word!

My Lord has been teaching me a lot about myself. He has proven to be my All-Consuming Fire burning off the unneeded qualities in my being that do not measure up to the character of Christ. I have had to come to the end of myself. I surrender.

No one likes to surrender. I picture the soldier tying the white handkerchief onto the end of his rifle and waving it. I picture hands lifted up into the air. I picture heads hung in shame.

No one likes to surrender.

The problem is, transformation occurs only when we surrender everything to the Lord. Everything. Not just the parts of life we want to give over. Not just the easy things in life. But everything. Every little inch of our being.

No one likes to surrender.

For me, it’s pride and arrogance. Maybe there’s a little bit of a control-issue. Oh, selfishness probably should be added to the list as well. And the fire burns hot…

Prayer Warriors

I’ve been thinking this morning…

I wonder if you could be a prayer warrior and not know it. I don’t know if I have any proof for this, and maybe you Readers can help me find scripture to support it or not support it.

God gives us talents and abilities.
We are supposed to put our abilities to work in the honoring of the Lord.
I really think some people have been gifted with the ability to pray.

Don’t get me wrong. Everyone is called by God to have a prayer life.

Promise Keeping

Both of my kids are napping right now and it is taking everything within me not to scream “Hallelujah!” at the top of my lungs!!

Why? you might ask.

Because my God is merciful!

I don’t want to give away my Awana lesson that comes out tomorrow, but I have had my eyes opened by the Lord this week through this study. What do you know about BLOOD COVENANTS?

Words…Powerful Words

At a church social, as I was picking up a yummy cinnamon roll off the table, a former pastor and his wife spoke to me. He is an older gentleman of whom I have great respect. These were his words to me: “I want you to know that I watch your children, and you are to be commended.”

I looked down, stunned, and then looked over to him, “Thank you, sir. It’s very hard sometimes.”

“Yes, it is hard to be a parent, but you are doing fine.”

I stared at him as he walked away.

He didn’t realize I’d had a really hard week. I mean, all four of us in the house had been dealing with sickness which brings out the grumpies, which causes school to be delayed and focus to be nonexistent. I’d driven to town 3 times to go to doctor visits. I had lost my temper once or twice and I am finishing up a wonderfully hard and convicting Bible study on Raising Kids. I ended last week almost in tears with thoughts of “Why am I doing this?” swirling in my head.

The power of words. Never underestimated the power of your words.

I will never forget that man.

I need to find someone to encourage today. Who can you encourage?

4 Characteristics of Criticism

God is good at what He does. He trains, rebukes, and teaches in love; and pulls me along side Himself as He shows me the conduct He wants to grow in my life. Lately He has been teaching me about humility. It hasn’t been pretty. I’ve done a lot of soul searching and wrestling with God. I’ve questioned. I’ve given excuse after excuse. But this is what it comes down to:

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:8

There it is in black and white. It is required of me to walk humbly with my God.

Is God Your Co-Pilot? I Hope Not

Have you seen those bumper stickers? “God is my co-pilot” they say. What does that really mean? I got to thinking about this the other day. Have you thought about it? “I’m in the driver’s seat, but you, God, can sit beside me and watch what I do.” Or maybe: “Don’t be a backseat driver, God. I know what I am doing.”

Why not put God in the pilot’s seat and see what happens:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” ~ Matthew 11: 29a

Please, Cover the Kids!

The kids have had swimming lessons for the past 3 weeks. The program has been wonderful and geared right to the individual abilities of each child. There have only been 4 children in their class, with mine being half the class. There are 2 lessons before the one my kids take, so at times there are a few extra kids and parents around.

Once the lesson is over, the instructors send the kids back to the parents to get ready to go home. When my kids are finished, I dry them off, put their shirts or covers on and we leave the pool area. This, to me, seems to be a proper way to end a marvelous time of swimming.

However, the other day I looked up from my book to watch my daughter kick and blow bubbles and got an eye full

Are You as Dumb as a Sheep?

When I was a sophomore in high school, I tried out for the Junior/Senior Mixed Choir and the ensembles that were a part of it. There were two. One was an all girl’s group (Melodears), and the other was a mixed ensemble (Madrigals). Ever since I had been a freshman sitting in the auditorium listening to them, I had desired to be a Madrigal. THAT was a major goal; and when I saw my name on the list for Madrigals…it was exciting to say the least! And I learned quickly of the rivalry between the Melo Pigs and the Mad Sheep.

There is Fluff in Homeschooling, too

When I was in the classroom, a complaint I’d get from parents was that there was too much “busy work” given to kids as homework. I had to agree at times. But what they didn’t know was all of the stuff I DID NOT assign to the kids! I’d try to mostly assign practice work for new objectives, or we’d have projects to do, which I always thought were fun. But looking back on it, if doing projects wasn’t a kid’s learning style, the project was drudgery.

Homeschooling is no different.