Well, school has started. We had an "ease-in" day yesterday, and today we jumped in with both feet. The kids are doing well, and really, they have great attitudes. I am so proud of them.
Ally and Kenton being silly...
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Vacation
Jason and I were trying to remember when we last had a vacation. Apart from the funerals of dear family members out of state, it has been four years since we have taken any sort of break. During that vacation, we spent Christmas in Houston with Jason's parents, saw my sisters and their children and many dear friends down south. It was a wonderful time, and full of great memories.
We are so blessed to be busy in the work of the Lord. If you are busy serving Him, that means He has an opportunity to use you, and we pray the Lord has been able to use us where we are in our dear church. It is sort of odd for Jason to view the ministry as work, though as his wife, trust me, he's working harder and longer than he ever has at anything else, but because it is what he loves to do, and he is serving with a man he loves and respects, the bad connotations of the word "work" don't apply. There are tough days, and heavy loads to bear, but he loves it all, as does the Pastor, and they make a very good team.
So, he's never really thought about taking time off-he would hate to miss church! But, he is in need of a rest, and the Pastor has been so gracious in allowing him to take this break. We will once again spend the time with our family in Houston, and we are so thrilled to be going.
Pray for us as we travel-we will drive, and Jason will want to get there as quickly as the law allows. Pray for our pastor, his wife, our teens and the church as we are away.
We will post some fun va-ca pics asap! God is so good!
We are so blessed to be busy in the work of the Lord. If you are busy serving Him, that means He has an opportunity to use you, and we pray the Lord has been able to use us where we are in our dear church. It is sort of odd for Jason to view the ministry as work, though as his wife, trust me, he's working harder and longer than he ever has at anything else, but because it is what he loves to do, and he is serving with a man he loves and respects, the bad connotations of the word "work" don't apply. There are tough days, and heavy loads to bear, but he loves it all, as does the Pastor, and they make a very good team.
So, he's never really thought about taking time off-he would hate to miss church! But, he is in need of a rest, and the Pastor has been so gracious in allowing him to take this break. We will once again spend the time with our family in Houston, and we are so thrilled to be going.
Pray for us as we travel-we will drive, and Jason will want to get there as quickly as the law allows. Pray for our pastor, his wife, our teens and the church as we are away.
We will post some fun va-ca pics asap! God is so good!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Reason #738
Sometimes folks will ask why I homeschool my children. This is reason #738.
I read a...gracious, I don't know quite how to characterize it...a sad/alarming/hilarious/tragically believable article on WorldNetDaily today about a teen beauty queen. Here's a link, for your perusal: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article57350.html .
By her own admission, she carries a 3.5 gpa, is a "student leader", whatever that means, and a varsity athlete. Her train of thought, however, was apparently still boarding at the station, because this chic had trouble finding two brain cells to rub together to answer a (really, really sad) question about the state of the American public education system.
Her bizarre answer is all the commentary we need to read to prove that our schools are bottomless pits of mediocrity and a vast waste of time for most of the poor kids who wander through the dangerous hallways and loud classrooms of today's schools.
This girl is one of the "smart ones"! Oh, she has her excuses for why her response was both unintelligible and totally off topic. We are real good at excuses today, but not so good at original thought. Student leader-oh my. Leading where, I wonder?
Now, I know that there are gifted, brilliant even, educators out there on the front lines of the public education battlefield (and make no mistake, it's a battlefield, people), and they invest not only in their students, but in their communities, their churches, and their own homes. But, anymore, they are becoming a rarity.
The Bible says, "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren..." and then it instructs us, and teaches us. I don't know what is going on at most schools today, but instruction on things like writing well, effectively communicating, comprehending a great book, being able to do a geometric proof, understanding the human nervous system, and learning about great people from history like Sacegewea or Winston Churchill or Stonewall Jackson or Alexander the Great, and being able to find Oman on a map are not amoung the educational priorities in government schools today.
For me, I will teach my children as Jesus taught his disciples: by being a one-on-one tutor, available at any moment for them. I will endeavor to learn as I teach, and teach them to love to learn. And I will pray fervently for those who strive to teach things of value in the public education system.
I read a...gracious, I don't know quite how to characterize it...a sad/alarming/hilarious/tragically believable article on WorldNetDaily today about a teen beauty queen. Here's a link, for your perusal: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article57350.html .
By her own admission, she carries a 3.5 gpa, is a "student leader", whatever that means, and a varsity athlete. Her train of thought, however, was apparently still boarding at the station, because this chic had trouble finding two brain cells to rub together to answer a (really, really sad) question about the state of the American public education system.
Her bizarre answer is all the commentary we need to read to prove that our schools are bottomless pits of mediocrity and a vast waste of time for most of the poor kids who wander through the dangerous hallways and loud classrooms of today's schools.
This girl is one of the "smart ones"! Oh, she has her excuses for why her response was both unintelligible and totally off topic. We are real good at excuses today, but not so good at original thought. Student leader-oh my. Leading where, I wonder?
Now, I know that there are gifted, brilliant even, educators out there on the front lines of the public education battlefield (and make no mistake, it's a battlefield, people), and they invest not only in their students, but in their communities, their churches, and their own homes. But, anymore, they are becoming a rarity.
The Bible says, "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren..." and then it instructs us, and teaches us. I don't know what is going on at most schools today, but instruction on things like writing well, effectively communicating, comprehending a great book, being able to do a geometric proof, understanding the human nervous system, and learning about great people from history like Sacegewea or Winston Churchill or Stonewall Jackson or Alexander the Great, and being able to find Oman on a map are not amoung the educational priorities in government schools today.
For me, I will teach my children as Jesus taught his disciples: by being a one-on-one tutor, available at any moment for them. I will endeavor to learn as I teach, and teach them to love to learn. And I will pray fervently for those who strive to teach things of value in the public education system.
Revival!
This week is our church's annual tabernacle revival. It is one of my favorite times of the year because it is almost like a time warp. Back in the day, believers met outdoors in tents and tabernacles. The outdoor meeting feels much more like a family gathering, and I love that.
There are folks who take hours setting up for the meetings, and then these very same people are the ones who clean everything up. Some of the most beautiful service to the Lord and His church is done by folks like this, who could care less if they ever get any recognition on earth, but are truly seeking to be a blessing to the people, and a servant of the Lord.
The preaching is powerful. There is something about hearing the word of God outside in the midst of His creation that makes it so vivid. Dr. Hamblin is always in tune with the needs of our church, and always brings us what the Lord would have for us to hear.
If you are ever privileged to attend a tabernacle meeting, go. Sit in the front, and take it all in. There are so many blessings for us, if we would only take the time to appreciate them.
There are folks who take hours setting up for the meetings, and then these very same people are the ones who clean everything up. Some of the most beautiful service to the Lord and His church is done by folks like this, who could care less if they ever get any recognition on earth, but are truly seeking to be a blessing to the people, and a servant of the Lord.
The preaching is powerful. There is something about hearing the word of God outside in the midst of His creation that makes it so vivid. Dr. Hamblin is always in tune with the needs of our church, and always brings us what the Lord would have for us to hear.
If you are ever privileged to attend a tabernacle meeting, go. Sit in the front, and take it all in. There are so many blessings for us, if we would only take the time to appreciate them.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The B-I-B-L-E
Oh mercy, we have a cute kid video to share. Grab your popcorn and prepare to be dazzled by the singing stylings of Eric Little...
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Home Alone with the Boys
Well, the boys and I have been home alone all day while dad and Ally go to Cedar Point with the teens. Boys, let me say, are a riot.
At breakfast, Kenton only spilled half a gallon of milk "trying to help" Eric. He very thoughtfully wiped it up with one of my nice towels, although he said "It still needs to dry."
At breakfast, Kenton only spilled half a gallon of milk "trying to help" Eric. He very thoughtfully wiped it up with one of my nice towels, although he said "It still needs to dry."
At the grocery, they pretended to be the Hulk together. While this is rather funny and endearing to me, apparently the rest of the Meijer shoppers were not amused.
They made guns out of everything. Everything! Their building toys, their lunch, their gaming controllers, everything.
They ate. All day. As soon as the plate was cleared, I heard, "I am still hungry!" I went to the store this morning, and I'll need to go again tomorrow! I am getting a bit nervous about the teen years.
They played video games (I gotta tell you, watching a 2 and 6 year old play X-Box is a riot), played in the pool, got messy, dug some holes, were unbelievably loud, and messy, all day.
What a blast!
There is nothing more wonderful than a couple of little boys, unencumbered by girls, and left to their own devices.
By the way-Allyson rode the Maverick today! People, this is a big deal!
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