Keeping Dad Posted

One of the many reasons I love homeschooling is that everyday life can be used for learning. This past week, for example, we were able to really focus on writing - in a fun and non-schoolish way.  In fact, I never even told the kids that we were "writing" - or that we were doing "school!"

Here's what we did...

Dad was out of town for work.  That meant two things: he wasn't going to get his daily newspaper and he wasn't going to be around for whatever we were doing.  The solution was obvious... make him a newspaper! 

First, we took a gander at the newspaper.  We observed that it was divided into sections and that the sections were divided into articles.  We also observed that the journalists used short and catchy titles for their articles and that they wrote about real-life events. Then we discussed how journalists answer the 5 W's - Who, What, When, Where, and Why.  My son pointed out that "how" was a good question too!

Over the next two days, after we drafted an outline for our newspaper and decided on a title for the paper, the kids each wrote an article per day for Daddy's newspaper.

The newspaper, or rather, At Home Times, ended up being 2 pages.  The front page news featured the most exciting event - a roadrunner in our neighborhood!  Also, from the pictures you can see that they even included a 5-day forecast (in case Daddy wanted to golf) and a comic strip.  Daddy loved his newspaper.  And the kids were super proud of their work. 

The best part of the whole project?  Not one complaint!
 

                                                                          

Lessons in Love

Our family devotion on Valentine's Day was a lesson in love.  Aside from the obvious reading of 1 Corinthians 13,  I borrowed an idea from a post at The Homeschool Mom.  It was the perfect visual for what I wanted to communicate.  I won't ruin the post by trying to summarize it.  You can just read it for yourself here.  It's worth a gander.  Go on.

The idea was so wonderful that love has been in the air since Valentine's.  My kids actually "get it" now.  They get that love is an action.  That love is an attitude.  A gesture.  A helping hand.  A kind word.  A friendly touch.  A small gift.

Mostly, they got what I wanted them to get.  That mom needs love too. 

Well...

I guess the New Year would be the perfect time to start blogging again IF someone were to blog again.

There's no real reason why I shouldn't. 

Maybe I'll give it one more shot.  See what happens. 

Hmmmm...

On Second Thought

This morning little Paul declared, "Mom, you're the best mom in the whole world!"

Then he thought about it and decided to revise his statement.

"Well, I mean you're one of the best moms in the whole world."

I guess that can mean only two things:

1.  I can't pretend to be perfect anymore.  Apparently, he already sees right through that facade.

2.  All of you are some of the best moms in the world too.

Cheers!  To some of the best moms I know!

The Lie

I've spent the last few weeks in need of some encouragement and affirmation.  I guess I just want to know that what I'm doing is right.  That I'm on track.  That God really did speak to me.  That God really did call on me, choose me, decide on me.

Conversations I've had, books I've read, quotes that I've stumbled upon or that have been shared with me have been echoing in my mind.  They've been confirming my convictions, challenging my motives, molding my plans.  

Then my morning devotion read, "He highly esteems those who choose to believe His call over the paralyzing screams of their own insecurities." 

My journaling exposed the lie.  God might change His mind about me.  I've been letting this lie discourage me.  I've let this lie welcome doubt and fear.  Yes, others might change their minds about me.  My failures, inconsistencies, over confidence, arrogance, rash judgments, imperfections... will cause others to doubt me, scoff at me, question me, roll their eyes at me.  But God won't change His mind about me.

Because you see, God knows I'm not perfect.  God knows I'll fail.  God knows I'll make mistakes.  He doesn't find his hope in me.  And praise God for that!  Moreover, God knows the completed work that will come from my obedience.  The things I can't see, He sees.  Long after I die, God will continue to use what He started with me.

My hope then is that I can inspire others to pick up a torch, start a movement, blaze a trail and then let that be the legacy they leave to their children - to carry on the work of the Lord. 

What legacy will you leave? I promise, it's impossible for God to change His mind about you.

Good Grief!

It's back.  Grief is back.  It's been a slow realization on my part, but it's back.  Over the past few weeks I've been one or many of these things: moody, irritable, gloomy, irrational, sad, depressed. angry.  All out of the blue.  I'm fine one minute, crying the next.  

I know that part of this round with grief is me just missing my brother, but there's a new aspect to this grief too.  Some of you may recall our journey with M.  She was my step-niece.  My older brother's wife's daughter.  Did you get that? Well, taking her in came at a great cost to us.  For me, I lost another brother.  My older brother hasn't talked to me for 6 months.  He's angry, bitter, sad... whatever, but at me, his little sister. I didn't get really sad about this until a few days after my birthday when I suddenly realized that he didn't call me.  He ALWAYS calls to wish me a happy birthday.  Always.

So I've been pondering over this "cost," re-learning that the price we pay for Christ is high. 

Big picture, I don't know the plans God has for M.  Or why God chose to use us.  Truth is, I may never know. But I do know that it cost me a relationship with my brother.  Moreover, I know that I am blamed, talked about, disliked, and accused falsely of things that are not my fault.  And it hurts.  Actually, I've been thinking that it pretty much sucks.  

Yet God has been faithful to remind me of His promises.  On Saturday He reminded  me of Matthew 5:10-12,

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven...

He also encouraged me to keep loving my brother, to keep praying for him, that he (my brother) would see with his eyes, hear with his ears, understand with his heart and turn, to be healed by God. Matthew 13:15 

Then yesterday he reminded me of two things.  First, that God honors obedience.  A friend shared with me that her husband came to know Christ and that she was the one who led him through prayer.  That made my day!!  My week!! God honored her obedience with an eternal gift - her husband's salvation!

Secondly, all of this grief is not without purpose.  Because of it, and through it, He has called me to build up a new generation.  To set tiny feet on solid ground layed by truth and delivered from the hands of Satan.  No doubt, it will continue to cost me.  But praise God!  Because in the end, when I'm standing in the presence of God, this is promised to me...

To him who is thirsty I will give drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Revelation 21:6