Quick update in pictures....

Ok, so since LTC we have been busy catching up with schooling and working diligently on our character issues, which have been somewhat numerous with the youngers. This has been an odd year for them with teens in the house. Their sleep schedule is not good. They do not like to sleep alone, but the older kids don't want to go to bed at 9pm. So the little stay up and get super grouchy and irritable. So we had to reinstate mandatory naptimes. Hate to do that but life can be unbearable without it.
We also had to research some creative parenting techniques with our "spankings make me even angrier" kids. So far so good.
We let the kids have a Pirates of the Caribbean movie party on Saturday as a reward for good behavior and just for fun. We LOVE those movies so we all watched Dead Man's Chest and ate lots of snacks and entertained each other. it was so much fun we must do it again to watch At World's End!
That is about all we have done. Short and sweet.

LTC was great

Genesis is a very familiar book to most of us, but with 50 chapters, it can be overwhelming to learn. there is just so much detail there. My LTC kides have been studying and reading Genesis every Wednesday night in class, and during bible time at home for 3 months. We also read through it over the summer and spent the past week really studying. So I am not surprised they got a gold, silver and bronze in competition. I am proud of them. I was a judge for bible bowl and could not answer all the questions myself. But no matter how many they missed, i know they came out knowing more than they did when they began and knowledge of the bible is a precious thing to have.
Jacob was a first time song leader and very nervous and unsure of himself, but he earned a gold. Made me smile for him! The scripts were really great for drama and puppets this year and all got gold. And the chorus Emily sang with sounded just gorgeous and they earned a gold, too.
But I was also happy that all three earned a gold on their art. Art is so subjective. Everyone has a different amount of talent and a different interpretation. What is great to one person may be awful to the next. Especially for Lizzy it was a HUGE boost . Having a learning issue and the ensuing things that go along with it, she really needed the gold.
The hotel was nice as always and we were not on the atrium, where the rooms are awfully loud. So it was a busy crazy weekend and they are excited to study for next year! How many people can say that one of their kids favorite activities is bible related??? Actually, any activity relating to church, from class, to CBH, to MNFTM, to LTC, to youth group all rank high for all my kids.
So now we shall rest...sort of.

Easter weekend is coming

What an eventful week it has been! We had LTC dress rehearsal on Sunday afternoon, which was also the start of our gospel meeting. Just before evening service, our youngest, age 5, did a flip outside and landed on her neck and couldn't look up. We left, got some food and almost ended up in the ER. She did go to the doctor the next day to find her neck was out of joint and needed some massage. Today is Thursday and she is still unable to fully lean her head back, but it is much better.
For homeschool this week we decided to take it easy on math, skip language arts, other than reading time and handwriting, and concentrate on our LTC text of Genesis. 50 chapters is ALOT to remember! But we have worked daily to learn it. Most is common, but there are some parts that are just confusing, especially if you are asked for specific wording and geneaology things. We also did more backtracking with the oldest as he is having difficulty with pre-algebra. We put him in Life of Fred this week to solidify concepts, and he loves it. It is helping a lot, so I bought the next 3 books to help him through algebra!
We worked on art for LTC and finished those projects today. We got chorus clothing and had dance and piano lessons. But by far our biggest event was the weather.
Apparently we do not watch tv enough because I had no idea we had storms coming for Tuesday. I knew it seemed cooler and windier after lunch that day, though. Around 2:30 I checked facebook and saw lots of people posting about tornadoes in Dallas! Yikes! Decided it was time to watch the news, and sure enough we had some terrible spring storms coming through! We got out the weather radio, charged the cell, and got radar on the laptops while watching NOAA on tv. About 4pm a line was moving right for us and shear markers were appearing in a cluster a few miles from us. Not good. We had a tornado warning and a watch. Meaning they could develop AND one had been spotted. So we cleared out an interior closet, put helmets on the kids, got in with dogs, cell and laptop and barred the door with a mattress. Texted husband to take cover at work since spotted tornado was heading toward his building. We prayed without ceasing that the Lord in His great power could take the tornadoes back up into the clouds and keep us and all our friends safe in the storms. He answered us and took the storms back up into the clouds. Some may think it is a coincidence, but I believe it was God's work. He didn't have to do that, but I believe He did. We prayed and sang for over 20 minutes until we heard it was safe to come out. Our area had 13 official tornadoes that day. One almost touched down less than 2 miles from our home and one within 5 miles of husband's work. So scary! Unfortunately the antenna on the weather radio broke as we entered the closet so i am looking for a new antenna. Spring in Texas is not over, and it is often violent.
So, we have weekend competition and other stuff going on. Busy, busy...but all for Him. Blessings to all of you!

Braces, Beds, Bible, and Battles

An epic battle of army guys and cowboys/indians.
Three kids reading in the afternoon. how sweet is that????
Her first lost tooth. I finished her tooth fairy pillow as she lost the tooth! Oh, that is green gum in her mouth, so don't get too grossed out.
A gorgeous sunset one evening. Photos never do God's handiwork justice.

Jacob at the "beach" at bass pro.kids pretending to be in Florida......oh, to be there right now!!!!! bliss......
She got her braces! The teeth are already moving. This was one hour after they were put on. Bottom ones come in 6 weeks.
New beds for the girls....we like!

It has been a busy couple of weeks as we have had a large share of errands and schoolwork to complete. Much has happened. The girls got new beds, Emily got braces on top teeth, kids got to get some new spring clothes, and got to shoot guns at bass pro and play on their beach, and we have been preparing for LTC bible competition. We are still working on LTC art entries and plan a big week of "cramming" next week before we leave. But there has been a lot of learning as we study botany, and the middle ages, and math and reading. We have seen some great educational shows, planned some get togethers, danced, and had co-op classes. Kids are starting to take responsibility for cooking some meals, so they can learn our recipes. Home Ec class, i say. Not sure how Easter will go. We will be getting home late, and there are some business trips coming up. Also got some big things happening with CHEFS and Timbrel right now. Life is kind of up in the air in some ways, but more grounded in others. God is in it all so it will all work out just fine. Anyway, just a brief and kind of random, messy update of our life.

Trust in the Lord

Life brings changes, and I am often resistant to them. The upcoming fall might bring some huge changes and I am not happy about them, but life will go on and god is good all the time and He will provide.
I have said before, and all who are on the same path know, homeschooling is a way of living more than anything else. It is not something that happens in textbooks from 8-3. And our involvement with the HS community is like an extended family. Changes are on the horizon. No one yet knows how these changes will be worked out, but they are known by Him because I know He is hearing all about them and He will bring about what is right and best for all of us. He works all things together for good for those who love Him. I am anxious, but it is all in His hands, as we pray.
My life motto is Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. So that is what I will do, for the changes are basically out of my control. I know what I wish to happen, but not what He will allow to occur. And through it all, I will choose to count our blessings, whether I like the outcome or not.

Why? For what purpose?

Religion. Homeschooling. Cultural shifts. Family decisions. Morality. Christianity.

I read a lot about these things and have so many views coming my way every day from magazines, facebook, television, acquaintances, and God's Holy Bible. So what do I do with all of this information? How do I decide what parts I put to use in my life, and how can I be holy and lead my children to desire to follow God?

Well, it seems to me that God alone is Holy and wise and He can work His will no matter what I do or do not choose to do within my free will. He has given me the tools to obey Him, if I should choose to do so. But "man" puts so many confusing things out there and so many condemnations of my efforts that I really just want to scream sometimes. Why bother at all? I am condemned if I eat organic, or non organic, or if i listen to certain shows, or read certain books, or wear no skirts, or wear only skirts, or wear shorter slim skirts, or wear shorts, or cut my hair, or approve of immunizations, or disapprove of immunizations, or watch over my kids closely, or don't watch over them so closely, or if I homeschool, or public school, or stay at home, or if I work. Good grief! Please give us all a break!

It seems today that men's private interpretations are exalted over God's Word. That is today's idolatry, and pharisaical behavior of our own imposed rules of godliness. God's word is pushed aside for man's desires, tastes, emotions. And it infiltrates our worship, too. It is degraded to entertainment. Why is all this stuff the new benchmark of spirituality? Are we really so blind? No. Mostly it seems people prefer to lazily accept the teaching of others rather than search the actual scriptures for themselves, and then they impose stricter "rules" than God does and perceive themselves holier than you. And we are resistant to change, and don't like to admit that people can actually be lost while claiming to be Christians. It is uncomfortable. It is a form of judging. But God alone is wise and supreme and in control. His Word stands. Before Him presidents, popes, kings, and emperors, are less than insects. Their words are just words, nothing more. Because they are all just men, humans, just like you and me. They are no more inspired than you or me, which is to say, not at all. God's word is the WAY. It is because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is no mortal. He is unchanging truth.

So why do we come up with all these self imposed rules of what is the best way to live? Because we are fallible humans and rules are easier to follow. We actually kind of like legalism (beware the Pharisees), because we can see the rules clearly. But God's law gives us freedom in Christ. We are given some black and white truths, and lots of general guidelines. And when we obey those guidelines with our freedom in Christ, we have many options, and God knows our hearts in these matters. We are not supposed to judge others in this. That is God's job. He gave us direct orders to go into the world and teach His Words (that is black and white), though he didn't tell us how to accomplish this (that is a guideline). If people are convicted by His Word, they will strive to live by it and that will be their judge, not us. Our job is to teach the truths of scripture and live for Him to the best of our ability.
An example is to be modest in dress. That is a scriptural truth, but a very general guideline. It is not black and white (though some think it is). Through biblical modesty we are displaying the power of God to a lost world and showing the special wonder of being female, because fashion based on human desires tends to exploit women. But we aren't given scriptural explicits, yet I see tons of judging in this with specific man made rules. I am even guilty here. I have my personal modesty rules for our house. I can't say they are 100% right and I can't impose them on others. But if you ask, I can share gently why I choose this way.
And what about being told by God to bring our children up in the Lord and to teach them diligently? I have my opinions and preferences, but God doesn't give us specifics here, either. I can tell you why I do what I do, but you are free to make your choices. God didn't give specifics. It is not my place to condemn you (or you to condemn me).
We are told by God that our body is the temple of God and not to be defiled by sexual immorality or gluttony, among other things. Again, I have very specific personal opinions here. But there aren't specifics in scripture on how to choose a mate, or whether to date or court, or what an actual portion size is, and what exact kind of food to eat and feed your family, or what kind of medicinal interventions to use. But, man oh man, there are a million specific human opinions out there on how you might be getting it all wrong!
And I won't even touch the topic of politics...that is a raging fire.

I am reminded of 1 peter 2:9 and matthew 5:14-16 as I try to live each day. Go ahead, look them up. It's ok.
I just want to do my best each day for Him and encourage you to do the same. But I can't give you a whole lot of specifics, other than to diligently study the scriptures and obey them to the best of your ability. Don't cave to what others think you should be doing. Make all your choices (if you are a Christian) in light of His words, not men's. He knows your heart and knows if you are ignoring His teachings. He knows when you are searching and trying to do your best, too. And He loves you at all times, even when you mess up. Believe in Him, repent of your sins, and let His blood wash away your sins so you can walk in His light.
There are a myriad of opinions out there that can really confuse you if you aren't careful and discerning. And it is so terribly easy to get sucked in. I get sucked in. Sometimes I think the Christian community has more strict, biased personal opinions than the rest of the world. And I wonder if the outside world sees that, and it turns them off of being "that kind of person" or a Christian. I bet it does. I am trying not to be part of the problem. But I know I have been, and likely I will stumble again. I am human. But each day is fresh and new, praise God!

So be blessed out there and try to be a blessing to those you come into contact with. Remember Proverbs 3 :5-6 .

Spring Break Activity

Hey, look! It's me!
Jordan and Kimberly in the van.
Jacob and Emily going to bible class.
Lizzy ready for church. So pretty!
Jordan fishing for crawdads and watching tadpoles.
Kim hanging out at the creek.
A little bit of spelling and writing. And below is building the science project where we are growing basil.

Spring break was a busy week. Not really a break. We did some schooling and had some fun, too. One of the big projects was to go through the kids clothes and weed out for spring/summer. In the end we rid ourselves of about 4 large bags of clothing. I also set some limits and actually stuck to them....for boys they get 3 jeans, 4-5 shorts, 1 track pants, 12 shirts and 2 dress pants and 4 nice shirts and 2 sleep pants. For girls they get, 4-5 dresses, 3 jeans, 4 shorts, 3 capris, 2 culottes, 2 jammies, 12 tops, 4 skirts and 4 nice tops. That may seem like a lot, but it really isn't all that much.
We also went to the movies with grandma and had planned to go to the Heard Museum but it didn't happen. One day we spent filming red Bat Returns with Jacob and his crew. We built a light hut, played outside a lot, headed to the park and just hung out together. Then at the end of the week was the Harry Potter movie marathon. We enjoyed that, too.
Mostly, it was just a nice, easy week. Oh, and no dance classes! Don't get me wrong...we LOVE dance classes and the studio and the atmosphere, BUT it was awesome to be home every evening!!! So much better than a vacation!
So, this week we are back at full time schooling, and full dance classes, and co-op, and such. This week we will fill in the clothing gaps (yep, we had some) and get Emily's braces put on. And we will end with a grandparent visit, and movies to see Hunger Games. Hope your week is fabulous!