Trying To Look Like Jesus

Well, tomorrow's the day I find out if I get Social Security Disability.  This picture says it all for me.  I've waited three long years to find out the end of this thing.  Was it all for nothing?  Was all that suffering in vain?  The months in and out of the hospital.  The weeks without my family.  The days when Lily would come visit me in the hospital and cry because she couldn't stay with mommy. There were days I was so sick from the meds  that I could barely get out of bed.  But I would, to go to those dumb hyperbaric oxygen treatments in the hopes that my wounds would heal and I wouldn't lose my toes.  In the end, I lost them anyway and I couldn't help but think "that's what I dragged myself out of bed for....for nothing!"  I was bitter and confused about why God would allow this to happen.  I lost my toes and my job that I absolutely loved  and it nearly drove my poor husband insane.  Actually he already...

Yesterday was a very productive day.  We had field trips and science experiments and even a much needed trip to the ice cream stand!  Okay, it wasn't much needed, but much appreciated.  Below are pictures of what we did.  Enjoy! Daddy came with us to the Nature Center This is from the butterfly garden there.   Dad and Lily looking for a frog. There he is! Noah doing his first science experiment Lily doing her first art project We had to add another bookcase Very busy day, but it was so much fun.  It's days like this that makes me happy to homeschool. PTL!! yE

Now that a new week has begun and the kids are back from camp, it's time to rev up school!  Noah will start his Mystery of History and Apologia Science this week.  It'll be interesting to see how he does with the middle school curriculum.  Lily and I will go on a second field trip back to the Nature Center.  She just asked today if it was on the schedule and once I confirm something with Lily, she holds me to it.  I'm so glad she's liking the Nature Study as much as I am and I just got a great deal this weekend on a download to help us with the class.  Brooke wants to get a job.  Oh, oh is right!  She's at that age where she needs (wants) more than we can keep up with.  You know,  new clothes, shoes, a hair straightener.  It's always something! We weren't crazy about her getting a job outside the home at first, but with me not being able to work like I used to and college in two years, well we'd better start saving, huh!...

This week Noah and Lily are away at camp and I always think I'll enjoy the quiet, but I never do.  At first it's nice to just wake up and take care of what I need to do, but by the middle of the week, I miss them.  Lord knows they don't miss me though.  They can't....they're so busy having fun up there there's not a chance they're missing home. This week it's just Brooke and I for school.  She is  definitely  enjoying the peace and quiet.  No one to get in her way or bother her, but I think the quietness of the house is getting to her..... albeit secretly! I started to ponder a question yesterday that I often come to when my salvation birthday comes around.  The only thing is that it was back in May,  but I was reading an email and the question was this... ."How did   God get your attention towards salvation?"   For me it was the near ruin of my marriage and family.  For Lily it was the death of a bunny Michael r...

This is my school room.  Yeah, its the living/dining room.  Sometimes its the bedrooms too!  All week I've been reading other posts of really cool school rooms and fancy curriculum and its hard not to covet that stuff.  Some of these school rooms are huge and packed full of awesome school stuff!  But then I'm reminded to be content with "whatsover ye have" and thank God that we have a home to spread out in!  School's been great so far, though last week was a little rough which was my fault because I strayed away from the plan .  It takes more time out of my precious  schedule (ugh, shame on me) but the kids do so much better with one on one time. Less noise, less distraction, less confusion.  Noah started his first day today and so far, so good.  Thank the Lord for His wisdom!   Well we missed out on the Knoebels trip but we are making the best of this beautiful day.  Only 3 weeks left to take advantage of our Sesame p...

Today I got some pretty bad news.  But I should have expected that, right?  After all, we just had a revival meeting at church and God did an amazing work that will continue, regardless of Satan's attacks on the church.  Don't you hate how he goes for the weakest ones in the pack.  I mean really, why would he go after the one or ones who are strong?  Keep your guard up because Satan is not happy with what happened over the last several days!  He is already at work trying to destroy what God is doing.   "But greater is He that is in me".....!!!!!  Don't let Satan win! Fight back, give him NO ground on which to stand on....take it back if he has!!  Let God continue to do that great and mighty work He has begun.  Praise be to God!!!!

When Michael and I first decided to homeschool we (I) was scared that we (I) would fail the kids.  Would they do well?  Will they get into a good college?  How is this going to work when Noah and Lily start homeschooling with us?  It was just Brooke the first year and..... it went better than expected!  The Lord truly blessed and it brought Brooke and I closer than ever.   Last year was a different story.  Although I had a desire to have a Holy Spirit led homeschool, more often than not I was just winging it. Some days I would dread getting up because of the horrible day we had the day before.  Why did I yell instead of gently teach?  So many times we skipped stuff because I was too overwhelmed.   Don't get me wrong, sometimes we had good days, really, really, good days.  And we got to do some neat things, but it wasn't what it should have been.   I didn't want that to happen this year and really sought the Lord for wisdom ...

Today we're goin' to the beach with my very good friend Lindsey.  Very excited because we've only been to the beach once this whole summer.  Decided to take off the rest of the week to enjoy what's left of summer and this is definitely my favorite summer thing to do!  There's something comforting about the ocean to me.  Also I get to lounge around, read my free magazines that have been piling up and play in the water!  Plus going with a friend makes it all the more enjoyable. Tried to go with hubby a couple weeks ago.  Let's just say, it didn't work out!  Have a blessed weekend!! Be back Monday............

When the kids and I go to the library each week, I will pick up books, educational books, and will place them in strategic places around the house for easy reading.  But sometimes I have to be really creative when a week has gone by without anyone looking at the cool books I picked up so, I have to be a little tricky. This morning I left out a book about owls on the kitchen table.... no one took the bait.  So I started to look at the book myself.... instant audience!  Kids are nosy when mom's doing, well, anything!   Yup!  They took the bait and started looking at the pictures and reading the captions!  I love homeschooling!!!

While crossing off  yet another day on my calendar, I was shocked  to see that July was already over.  How can that be?!  Didn't I just erase my calendar for June and start July?!  I'm trying not to have a complaining spirit about it.  It seems that just when I'm starting to enjoy something, it's almost over.  It was a hot one, and the cooler temps we've been getting lately have been delightful, but I'm a summer girl.   Well, I'll get over it.    As I get older I'm noticing time becomes more and more fleeting.  It's times like this that I am reminded when the bible says to, "redeem the time".  Lord, help me not to be a time waster. My girls will be doing school as usual, but I think we're going to take the rest of the week off and do some summer stuff, while we still can!  Make the most of what is left of summer:)