Camping…Oh My!

We are heading out today to go camping with the boys.  I will be the first one to admit that camping is NOT my thing.  I’d prefer a hotel with lovely amenities…or even my own bed!  God has blessed us with two crazy boys!  They love to hike, get dirty and explore.  I am praying that God will give me that same love…even just a touch of it!  I know that watching the boys will be a joy.  I’m hoping that seeing camping through their eyes will help me to enjoy myself more than I expect too. 

Do you like camping?  Any wild camping stories?  I pray none of them contain a raccoon!!!  They frighten me!

Mini Update

I’m still here!  So many things have been going on that I have failed to blog as I like too.  Shan and I had a wonderful weekend at CHEO.  It’s a yearly event in Ohio for Christian homeschoolers.  We leave each year feeling refreshed and knowing more than ever that God has called us to homeschool our kids.  This year we attended an extra day and took Noah along.  He enjoyed spending the day with us and learning about family discipleship.

God is doing so much in our lives.  We are continually seeking Him on a daily basis for guidance.  We know He is leading us and changing our hearts.  It is painful!!  I’ll be the first one to admit that growing in my walk with God hurts!  He often asks me to take things out of my life or add in new things that I wasn’t quite ready for.  He is always there to hold my hand and help me through. 

The boys are doing great!  Noah is about finished with his 2nd grade year at home.  His reading skills have really come a long way this year.  We purchased all of his curriculum for 3rd grade at CHEO and I’m ready to go!  Noah, however, would like a two month break.  I think that is in order.  We’ll keep reading all summer and Bible is an everyday must.  I love teaching the boys that God’s word is a priority each day of their lives.

Titus…well, he’s something.  He’s full of funny faces.  He is also talking up a storm in full sentences.   He likes to say, “never-mind” and “awesome”.  He is always a cowboy!  His potty training is going great with very few accidents during the day.  I love to see him in his cowboy hat with a tshirt on and just his boots.  No naked pictures on the blog but he’s so much fun. 

I hope this catches some of you up!  I’ll post a few pictures of Father’s day and a day at our local train depot.  I hope you are having a wonderful summer! 

The Best Baby Daddy!

Happy Father’s Day!!  One of the things I love so much about Shan is his passionate love for our boys!  We have had a blast this year going on mini field trips and just having fun family time.  I love that he is an active dad.  He doesn’t just sit on the couch or do his own thing, he loves on our boys each day.  I know he’s exhausted most days from work but, he still will wrestle and play with the kids.  I appreciate him so much for all he does for the three of us! 

Shan, I love you so much!  Happy Father’s Day! 

Here are a bunch of fun, silly and sweet pictures of Shan and the boys!   He truly is a big kid at heart!

 

He Knows!

Tonight, like many  nights I am not sleeping.  When 7 pm comes around a feeling creeps into my upper chest and neck.  I will be fine all day and then suddenly like clockwork it appears.  I cannot explain it but I can tell you this…I dislike it!  It seems to be worse when I lay down so I try to stay busy.  We are spending our last night at the resort in Florida where Shan has been working.  We will drive part of the way home tomorrow and I cannot sleep.  I grabbed my new ESV Study Bible and headed for the outdoor patio.  God knows how to love on me!  This verse sang straight to the core of my heart.

Psalms 94:18-19 

“When I thought, ‘my foot slips.’ Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.  When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

I sat and read these two verses over and over as I cried.   Consolations in this passage has this definition:  the assurance that God knows, that He has shown His support already and that He will surely judge.  This blew me away.  He knows!!  He knows the cares of my heart, the joys and pain.  His knowing is something to remember because it will bring me joy!  He’s always known each detail of what I would face in my life.  I am so thankful for my time.  I wouldn’t trade it for any amount of sleep.  

What do you need to give to Him?  I am laying down my anxiety, my hurt, my pain, myself.  It’s daily…a daily giving of ourselves to God.  Yes, our salvation is permanent but, we always need to keep our sin in check.  When I hold on to things and worry..it’s pride.  I am telling God, I can do it better.  I am telling the Master and Creator that His plan and abilities are not sufficient enough for me.  I am torn and broken.  God, change me.

I know this is a bit random but, it’s my heart.

Follow-through

This morning I woke up with “follow-through” on my mind.  It’s easy to start something but not near as easy to finish. Here is the definition…”carrying some project or intention to full completion”.  When it comes to eating right, the phrase “I’ll start Monday!” comes to mind.   Do I really do it?  You have to follow-through when you pitch a baseball or it won’t go the direction you want it too.  Follow- through is huge to me right now.  For those who have been following me for a while or who are a personal acquaintance, you know that I have been eating right since December!  This journey has not been an easy one.  I am closing in on 60 pounds lost today.  I will be thrilled to hit that number.  It is easy to give in some days and to eat something that I shouldn’t.  It’s easy to blow one meal and try to justify it as “ok”.  For me, it’s all about follow-through at this point.  I have GOT to keep going.  This is one of the hardest journey’s of my life!  It sounds silly to me that food is a journey that would be tough.   I am a glutton.  My numbing, go-to, salve of the soul was food!  I have had to change my focus off of food for comfort and onto Jesus Christ!  It sounds kinda silly…I realize that but, it’s not.  If it were easy all Christians would be thin and in shape!  Have you looked around lately?  I in no way want to hurt your feelings if you  struggle with this sin but, look at it for what it is..sin.  Sin blocks us from a full, thriving relationship with God.  I want God!  I want more of Him and less of me.  If that means choosing the hard, long, winding road…that’s what I want! 

Follow-thru…

Has God asked you to do something that you’ve failed to follow-through with?  Give money to a person in need.   Encourage a friend with a letter or e-mail.  Avidly working on a struggle you face each day.  Loving someone who is like hugging a porcupine.  Getting rid of sin you are hanging on too.  I urge you to do it! 

This Casting Crowns song says it all. 

The Altar and the Door

Careless, I am reckless
I’m a wrong way traveling, slowly unraveling, shell of a man
Burn out, I’m so numb now
That the fire’s just an ember way down in the corner, of my cold, cold heart

Lord this time, I’ll make it right
Here at the altar I lay my life
You’re kingdom come and my will was done
My heart is broken as I cry….

Like so many times before
I flood my eyes
I try before I leave the floor
Oh Lord I try…(I’ll try)
but this time Jesus how can I be sure
I would not lose my follow through
between the altar and the door

Here at the altar
Oh my world so black and white
How could I ever falter
What you’ve show me to be right

Lord this time (Lord this time)
I’ll make it right (make it right)
Here at the altar I lay my life
You’re kingdom come, but my will was done
my heart is broken as I cry

Like so many times before
but my eyes, are dry before I leave the floor
Oh Lord I try… (I’ll try)

but this time Jesus how can I be sure
I would not lose my follow through
between the altar and the door

I’m trying so hard, to stop trying so hard
just let you be who you are
Lord who You are in me

Jesus I’m trying so hard
to stop trying so hard
Just let you be who you are
Lord who You are in me, Oh Lord I…

Cry….
like so many times before
but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor
Oh Lord I try…(I’ll try)
but this time Jesus how can I be sure
I would not lose my follow through
between the altar and the door

Cry…(My eyes are dry)
Like so many times before (So many times)
But my eyes (eyes)
Are dry before I leave the floor
Oh Lord I try (I’ll try)
But this time Jesus how can I be sure
I would not lose my follow through
between the altar and the door

try…(trying so hard)
like so many times before… (try so hard)

Things I Love…

This morning I woke up to the sounds of giggles.  Usually the boys wake up and come sneak into my bed.  This morning however, they stayed in their room.  They were under the covers with a flashlight playing.  My heart melts when I see them loving on each other.  I love watching Noah come out in his army gear and a few short steps behind is Titus…in matching clothes.  He tries his best to keep up and be the best soldier possible.  He even calls Noah, Sergeant. 

I am thankful today that the boys love each other and that I can watch them love on each other each day!

Show Me..

Show me Lord what is cluttering my life that takes time away from you.

Show me how to be a better mom and wife.

Show me how to be a better me…the one You created and have a purpose for.

Show me how to sing for You alone.

Show me how You faced persecution without being hurt so badly that You sinned.

Show me You…more of You!

 

What do you need to see from Him today?

Hide It!

God has been at work in me in some specific areas.  I will say one is in the way I homeschool.  I enjoy many parts of homeschooling.  When Noah was a baby Shan and I knew that God was leading us to keep our kids at home.  To teach them and raise them up with Him being the focus.  We got many mixed reactions.  It’s so funny to me when I look back and see some of the things family and friends would say. There are some fond  memories and then the ones I don’t like think about!  The change is the way that I homeschool.  I know that reading, math, science, handwriting, etc are all important but to us Bible is by far #1!  If Bible takes up alot of our time then the other subjects can wait!  

I am very confused when a lot of families ask why we homeschool.  All I have to do is look at my own school experiences to know a bit of the reason.  (same for Shan)  Our main reason is that the boys would have a God centered education.  There are many verses in the Bible that talk about teaching your kids.  Most mom’s say the same thing…”you must be a very patient person.  I could never homeschool.”  That always makes me smile.  NO, I am not a super patient person, though I am positive God is working on that area in my life because of homeschooling.  ANYONE can homeschool. 

Noah and I are working on different memory verses.  He is great at memorizing!  He says I’m slowing him down by memorizing them with him.  Most kids will learn or are taught a verse on Sunday if they attend a church.  I realize that some churches ask for memorization and play games to encourage participation.  I don’t want my kids to learn their Bible for a prize(though those can be nice)…I want them to desire the word of God to be hidden in their hearts.  I want them to understand how vital the Bible is to their everyday lives.  It’s great to learn a verse but, the key is to hide it and remember it when you need it most!   Review and more review will be the key!

I pray that whoever reads this will be encouraged to start memorizing MORE scripture.  Not just a verse a week…though that would be a great start!  Memorize different passages as a family.  Teach your kids the value and wisdom that the Bible holds.  It is the only book that is 100% accurate!  Help them to start hiding it in their hearts.

 Noah’s verse for today and tomorrow:

2 Timothy 3: 14-17

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.“

Noah is memorizing the verses I italicized.  I love the two verses before that.  Timothy was taught from infancy to learn the scriptures!!  What an awesome gift to give to your kids!

Just my thoughts for the day! 

 

My prayer today:

God, help me to desire Your word more than anything.  Help me to run hard after You each day as though it is my last!

Priceless….

Just a picture post tonight! 

 

I LOVE my new camera!  This picture is priceless!!

Mother’s Day Joy!

The boys got me an awesome new camera for Mother’s Day!  Our camera had been broken for 6 or 7 months so I was overjoyed when I opened my gift!  It is my first Nikon.  I have wanted one for a long, long time.  I had a blast on Mother’s Day taking pictures of my family.  I am so blessed to have two boys and an awesome husband who love me to pieces!  Here are a few pictures from the day….