Baby Update

I am almost 19 weeks along now, and all is going well, praise God! I had my ultrasound a bit early because of some concerns regarding the location of the placenta, but all looks well. I will have to go in for a follow-up ultrasound in a few more weeks, because there were some views they were unable to get. I love being able to see the little one in there! We got some great face shots, and were able to see it give a few big yawns! And yes, we did, and will, hold strong in our determination to not find out the gender until delivery day. The surprise is so much fun!

As with every pregnancy, this one has differences from the rest. I did not feel this baby move until 17 weeks, which is late, for me. I now feel movement regularly, but not strongly and actively, just little tickles here and there. I have gained very little weight, and while I am officially in maternity clothes, the "bump" is still on the small side. I don't offer that as a complaint, though, because I know I have 4 more months to GROW! lol! I just feel like this baby is a small one... my sentiments might change come early next year, though. The only thing that really reminds me that I'm pregnant on a regular basis is the fact that I'm ready to fall asleep by 9 pm every night!

Can I take a minute to talk about food? For the first 3.5 months, there was hardly ANYTHING I could eat. Slowly but surely, that has been changing, which I'm very thankful for. Most recently, I have started enjoying peanut butter again. Peanut butter is usually a main staple in my diet, but I had major aversions to it during my first trimester. Just this past week did I start craving it again, and now I can eat it with no problem. I know there are warnings about no peanut butter during pregnancy... but I have 4 children, all of whose pregnancies I consumed vast amounts of peanut butter through, and only one is actually allergic to peanuts (and has many other food allergies, as well, so its not specifically peanuts). For what its worth, during my pregnancy with Isaac I ate tuna fish and soy milkshakes almost every day of his pregnancy, and we all know the warnings about those, too - and he is healthy and smart. So, warnings are good to heed, but not necessarily law to live by ;-) Its a blessing to be able to enjoy full, delicious meals again!!

Whole Wheat Bread Success

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I have finally found a recipe for whole wheat bread that Michael loves... I have tried for years and years to get the "right" recipe, with little success. But this is good enough to have Michael considering getting me a mixer so that I can make it all the time (which I would!), so it must be pretty good ;-) Heather and Manda asked for the recipe, so I am happy to share! I actually got it from another friend, Jennifer, and she says its from Bread Beckers. She used it to make rolls one night when we came to visit, and they were so yummy! So the recipe is versatile, it can be used to make bread loaves or rolls... I'll share both directions!

I will say, however, that I had difficulty making rolls with it. The dough wasn't "formed" enough for me to shape well, even after rising... so I just spooned it into the bread loaf pans instead... but the result was just as warm and yummy. Since I don't yet have a mixer and I had to knead it by hand, I don't know what affect that played on the consistency of the dough and how it might be different with a mixer. Either way, we loved it! We made it as basic as possible - we did not include the egg, lecithin or gluten... just water, yeast, honey, flour and salt. So simple!!

2 cups hot water

1/2 cup oil (1/3 cup if using egg)

1/2 cup honey

3 1/2 tsp. instant yeast

1 egg (optional)

5 cups freshly milled flour (I use King Arthur Whole Wheat flour)

2 tsp. salt

1-2 Tbsp. lecithin (optional)

1/2 tsp. gluten (optional)

Combine water, oil, and honey. Add 3 cups of flour, yeast, salt, lecithin, and gluten. Mix thoroughly. Add the remaining flour and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 min.). Let rise until double. Shape into loaves or rolls, place in greased pans, and let rise again. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 min. Makes two 1 1/2 lb. loaves.

For dinner rolls: The dough for one loaf makes about 10 nice size rolls. To form: divide dough into balls and roll into ropes. Tie ropes into knots. Place on greased cookie sheet. Let rise about 45 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

Wordless Wednesday - A View of Homeschooling

More Movies

Michael and I have become more selective about what kinds of movies we watch, so lately we've been immersing ourselves in interesting social documentaries and movies with Christian themes, like mission work and such. Michael is a big movie buff, so he can be a little skeptical when he sees what's come from Netflix for the week, as many are independent or don't have "big names", but there have been very few movies that have disappointed him, no matter how cheesy he was afraid they might be ;-) We've come across so many new and interesting movies, which is my excuse for all of the reviews I've been posting lately!

The first one is "Expelled, No Intellegence Allowed" with Ben Stein. I had wanted to see this when it came out in theaters earlier this year, but didn't get a chance. It is now available for immediate viewing on Netflix! It is an excellent documentary on the bias in the science world there is against Intelligent Design. The film is very clear to distinguish that "Intelligent Design" is not the same as "Creationism" and does not require everyone to convert to Christianity and pray in schools, as seems to be the big fear among the science community. I was amazed at how Ben Stein connected the dots for the viewer of how Darwinism has penetrated and affected society - from Eugenics, to Socialism, to Abortion, to Hitler's regime... he doesn't back down on any front, and everything that is presented in his arguments is logical and backed up with much evidence. It was really eye-opening and enlightening!

The next movie was a sweet one we watched last night, called "Come What May". This is available to view for free online, so check it out!! It was created at Patrick Henry College, by a group of Homeschool graduates, so I was excited to see it. At first, the acting is slightly stiff, but once you get into the movie, the story line is engaging, the acting improves, and the message is so, so true and touching. There were several facets of the movie I appreciated, but I don't want to spoil any of the sweetness of it, so I'll leave it for you to watch and see for yourself! Enjoy!!

Games

Having 4 boys and a very playful husband, our home is never lacking in games, especially ones they make up themselves. This is what I came out to the other night after putting Nathan to bed...

Pro-Life

And this is why:



The first thing the Lord changed in my heart was my view on abortion. He showed me how precious all life is to Him, the creator of all life. I remember the first time I saw my first child in an ultrasound - I was 10 weeks along, and there on the screen was this perfectly formed, kicking and squirming, beautiful human child. My heart was crushed thinking that 10 weeks is often when many early abortions happen... and life is already so perfectly formed and living.

The beauty of creation is amazing, nothing less than a miracle. When people talk about it being a matter of rights, I have to wonder... whose rights are they talking about?

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:13-16

True Womanhood

I've already posted about the True Woman 08 site and the audios available that have been such an encouragement to me. Joni Eareckson Tada's message had me weeping in surrender to the Lord throughout the entire thing... it is amazing! (You can read it here, but I highly recommend listening to it.) And the other messages weren't too shabby themselves, either ;-) There are SO many good encouragements on this site. I've signed up for their "True Woman 30-Day Make-Over" which is a 30 day email/blog devotional walk through Proverbs 31, and I've enjoyed many of their other resources available.

One thing that I wanted to share especially is what they're calling the "True Woman Manifesto". I read it and believe that it does a wonderful job of highlighting how women are created in a unique ways to serve and love the Lord, and in unique ways to demonstrate that love to the world. So, I was sure to sign it (they're hoping to get 10,000 signatures) and I also wanted to share it here!

True Woman Manifesto

We believe that God is the sovereign Lord of the universe and the Creator of life, and that all created things exist for His pleasure and to bring Him glory.1

We believe that the creation of humanity as male and female was a purposeful and magnificent part of God’s wise plan, and that men and women were designed to reflect the image of God in complementary and distinct ways.2

We believe that sin has separated every human being from God and made us incapable of reflecting His image as we were created to do. Our only hope for restoration and salvation is found in repenting of our sin and trusting in Christ who lived a sinless life, died in our place, and was raised from the dead.3

We realize that we live in a culture that does not recognize God’s right to rule, does not accept Scripture as the pattern for life, and is experiencing the consequences of abandoning God’s design for men and women.4

We believe that Christ is redeeming this sinful world and making all things new, and that His followers are called to share in His redemptive purposes as they seek, by God’s empowerment, to transform every aspect of human life that has been marred and ruined by sin.5

As Christian women, we desire to honor God by living counter-cultural lives that reflect the beauty of Christ and His gospel to our world.

To that end, we affirm that . . .

Scripture is God’s authoritative means of instructing us in His ways and it reveals His holy pattern for our womanhood, our character, our priorities, and our various roles, responsibilities, and relationships.6

We glorify God and experience His blessing when we accept and joyfully embrace His created design, function, and order for our lives.7

As redeemed sinners, we cannot live out the beauty of biblical womanhood apart from the sanctifying work of the gospel and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.8

Men and women are both created in the image of God and are equal in value and dignity, but they have distinct roles and functions in the home and in the church.9

We are called as women to affirm and encourage men as they seek to express godly masculinity, and to honor and support God-ordained male leadership in the home and in the church.10

Marriage, as created by God, is a sacred, binding, lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.11

When we respond humbly to male leadership in our homes and churches, we demonstrate a noble submission to authority that reflects Christ’s submission to God His Father.12

Selfish insistence on personal rights is contrary to the spirit of Christ who humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and laid down His life for us.13

Human life is precious to God and is to be valued and protected, from the point of conception until rightful death.14

Children are a blessing from God, and women are uniquely designed to be bearers and nurturers of life, whether it be their own biological or adopted children, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, or other children in their sphere of influence.15

God’s plan for gender is wider than marriage; all women, whether married or single, are to model femininity in their various relationships, by exhibiting a distinctive modesty, responsiveness, and gentleness of spirit.16

Suffering is an inevitable reality in a fallen world; at times we will be called to suffer for doing what is good—looking to heavenly reward rather than earthly comfort—for the sake of the gospel and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.17

Mature Christian women have a responsibility to leave a legacy of faith, by discipling younger women in the Word and ways of God and modeling for the next generation lives of fruitful femininity.18

Believing the above, we declare our desire and intent to be “true women” of God. We consecrate ourselves to fulfill His calling and purposes for our lives. By His grace and in humble dependence on His power, we will:

1. Seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.19

2. Gladly yield control of our lives to Christ as Lord—we will say “Yes, Lord” to the Word and the will of God.20

3. Be women of the Word, seeking to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to live in accord with sound doctrine in every area of our lives.21

4. Nurture our fellowship and communion with God through prayer—in praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and supplication.22

5. Embrace and express our unique design and calling as women with humility, gratitude, faith, and joy.23

6. Seek to glorify God by cultivating such virtues as purity, modesty, submission, meekness, and love.24

7. Show proper respect to both men and women, created in the image of God, esteeming others as better than ourselves, seeking to build them up, and putting off bitterness, anger, and evil speaking.25

8. Be faithfully engaged in our local church, submitting ourselves to our spiritual leaders, growing in the context of the community of faith, and using the gifts He has given us to serve others, to build up the Body of Christ, and to fulfill His redemptive purposes in the world.26

9. Seek to establish homes that manifest the love, grace, beauty, and order of God, that provide a climate conducive to nurturing life, and that extend Christian hospitality to those outside the walls of our homes.27

10. Honor the sacredness, purity, and permanence of the marriage covenant—whether ours or others’.28

11. Receive children as a blessing from the Lord, seeking to train them to love and follow Christ and to consecrate their lives for the sake of His gospel and Kingdom.29

12. Live out the mandate of Titus 2—as older women, modeling godliness and training younger women to be pleasing to God in every respect; as younger women, receiving instruction with meekness and humility and aspiring to become mature women of God who in turn will train the next generation.30

13. Seek opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with unbelievers.31

14. Reflect God’s heart for those who are poor, infirm, oppressed, widows, orphans, and prisoners, by reaching out to minister to their practical and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.32

15. Pray for a movement of revival and reformation among God’s people that will result in the advancement of the Kingdom and gospel of Christ among all nations.33

Supporting Scripture:
1 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11
2 Gen. 1:26–27; 2:18; 1 Cor. 11:8
3 Gen. 3:1–7, 15–16; Mark 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:1–4
4 Prov. 14:12; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:18, 8:6–7; 2 Tim. 3:16
5 Eph. 4:22–24; Col. 3:12–14; Titus 2:14
6 Josh. 1:8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; 3:15–16
7 1 Tim. 2:9; Titus 2:3–5; 1 Pet. 3:3–6
8 John 15:1–5; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:8–10; Phil. 2:12–13
9 Gen. 1:26–28; 2:18; Gal. 3:26–28; Eph. 5:22–33
10 Mark 9:35; 10:42–45; Gen. 2:18; 1 Pet. 5:1–4; 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12–3:7
11 Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:7–9
12 Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Cor. 11:3
13 Luke 13:30; John 15:13; Eph. 4:32; Phil. 2:5–8
14 Psalm 139:13–16
15 Gen 1:28; 9:1; Psalm 127; Titus 2:4–5
16 1 Cor. 11:2–16; 1 Tim. 2:9–13
17 Matt. 5:10–12; 2 Cor. 4:17; James 1:12; 1 Pet. 2:21–23; 3:14–17; 4:14
18 Titus 2:3–5
19 Deut. 6:4–5; Mark 12:29–30
20 Psalm 25:4–5; Rom. 6:11–13; 16–18; Eph. 5:15–17
21 Acts 17:11; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:17–18; Titus 2:1, 3–5, 7
22 Psalm 5:2; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1–2
23 Prov. 31:10–31; Col. 3:18; Eph. 5:22–24, 33b
24 Rom. 12:9–21; 1 Pet. 3:1–6; 1 Tim. 2:9–14
25 Eph. 4:29–32; Phil. 2:1–4; James 3:7–10; 4:11
26 Rom. 12:6–8; 14:19; Eph. 4:15, 29; Heb. 13:17
27 Prov. 31:10–31; 1 Tim. 5:10; 1 John 3:17–18
28 Matt. 5:27–28; Mark 10:5–9; 1 Cor. 6:15–20; Heb. 13:4
29 Psalm 127:3; Prov. 4:1–23; 22:6
30 Titus 2:3–5
31 Matt. 28:19–20; Col. 4:3–6
32 Matt. 25:36; Luke 10:25–37; James 1:27; 1 Tim. 6:17–19
33 2 Chron. 7:14; Psalm 51:1–10; 85:6; 2 Pet. 3:9

Another Tag!

Meghann from The Jones Family blog tagged me in a fun "6 Things I've Learned" tag. I'm supposed to list 6 things I've learned in the past month, and then tag 6 others. I won't be officially tagging any others because I recently did another tag and don't want to become the annoying tagger ;-) but I do invite anyone else to join in. This question was a very thought-provoking one for me! Here are 6 things that I've learned in the past month:

1. How to make whole wheat bread my husband LOVES!

2. Taking my prenatal before bedtime helps me wake up with more energy

3. A church isn't just about denomination - its about the people in it, the love that's demonstrated, and the fruit that's borne there.

4. Something I've known but He's proving to me again and again - God is so, so good. Always. Even when it seems like nothing else is.

5. Just how much I truly need and love the mercy and strength of God

6. Just how much I truly need and love my husband

What have you learned lately? Feel free to share, and comment to let me know you have!

Wordless Wednesday - A View of Homeschooling

(A field trip to Nature's Classroom, on Lookout Mountain in Alabama)

A Fun Meme

Brenda at The Family Revised did this meme and invited any and all to join in... so here I go!

10 Years Ago I ...
1. was 18 years old
2. was newly married
3. was newly Christian
4. didn't know what love really was (i'm learning more each and every day)
5. had no thoughts of having children

5 Things on my to do list...
1. Go grocery shopping (done)
2. Take Ez to his allergy shots (done)
3. Fix dinner (meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggies)
4. Drink more water
5. Reschedule boys' dentist appointments

5 Snacks I enjoy...
1. Chocolate
2. Pickles
3. TLC Crackers
4. Apricots
5. Ice Cream (does that count as a snack?)

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire...
1. Give
2. Pay off home
3. Buy land and build custom home
4. Help parents and in-laws retire/pay off homes
5. Save for children

5 Places I have lived...
1. Virginia
2. Massachusetts
3. New Hampshire
4. New York
5. the Carolinas

5 Jobs I have had...
1. Waitress
2. Retail (Walgreens, Bath and Body Works)
3. Groom for show horses
4. Stable hand
5. Quality Assurance Editor something or other

Join in the fun! If you decide to post on your blog, leave a comment and let me know! :-D

Moving On

We recently finished our year in My Father's World Adventures, what we've considered Isaac's "second grade" curriculum. It was a wonderful year in learning about the history of the United States, with great books to explore, fun projects, and lots of things to talk about! For this accomplishment, Isaac was presented with a "Second Grade Graduation" certificate and a small gift.

How many other children can say they got a Ferrari for finishing second grade? :-D

Now we're back to doing a hodge podge of things before moving into the next MFW level, with will be Exploring Countries and Cultures. One of our goals is to help him grow a bit more independent in his work, so he now is responsible for 2 subjects that are not scheduled for him - he determines when he will get them done, does them on his own, and then brings them to me or Michael for checking. He does have requirements on how many pages or lessons he needs to complete in a week, so its not just a free-for-all, of course. I'm excited about this! His two independent subjects will be Bible (using Rod and Staff's 3rd grade Reading, which uses Bible readings and comprehension questions) and Logic.

For English, we're back to Rod and Staff's English 2... for a while we tried something a bit more along the lines of Charlotte Mason-style (we used Queen's Language Lessons series), and we enjoyed it, but ultimately, Michael and I agreed that Rod and Staff was a better fit for Isaac. For Science, we will complete Apologia's Elementary Astronomy, using Live N' Learn Press's Learn N' Folder - Isaac LOVES these, it really makes notebooking alot more interesting for him.

Something I just decided to add into the day is Geography. I went back and forth about this because next year in MFW is focused entirely on Geography. But I had come across "A Child's Geography - Explore the Holy Land" and thought it looked too fun and interesting to miss out on. And a little extra knowledge about the Middle East won't hurt any of us! (On a really random note, after I bought the book, I realized the author is also the writer of a favorite blog of mine, Holy Experience!) For math, we continue with Math-U-See Beta, and also continue with Rosetta Stone Spanish.

We spent this week getting started in our new routine, and I think we'll really enjoy the year!

Encouragement

If you're looking for a big old dose of encouragement in your walk with the Lord as a woman, I highly recommend heading over to the True Woman 08 site and listening to their audio downloads. Each one seems to be about 45 minutes or so - I haven't listened to all of them yet, but the ones I have heard are really, really good!

And, I know I've mentioned it before, but the Revive Our Hearts ministry is really a blessing. Be sure to check out their site, as well!

Change is Good

Last week, Michael had us all sit down for a family meeting, to discuss some household rules and organization that he's been taking note of that need work. We created what is often called an "If/Then" chart. The chart has one column that lists common offenses that happen in our home, the next column lists what the consequence of the offense are, and we are working on another column that lists scripture or a Biblical teaching in regards to the offense. This has worked wonders!

For example, even though we've told the boys so many times "no running in the house"... it was still something that happened frequently. For some reason, having it on a visible chart has made it so much easier for all of us. For me, its been helpful with the discipline. Previously, the boys would start running and I'd remind them "no running". They'd settle down... for a bit... and then a few hours (or days) later, once again running would begin. And I would doubt myself and think "maybe they forgot" or "are they actually disobeying if I haven't warned them this time?" Or I'd get frustrated that I HAD just told them a few hours ago and I'd yell! :-( Now, when running begins (and, since we started this, it is almost completely eliminated!), I just stop the offender, bring them to the chart, and enforce the consequences.

Our consequence for this was to have the runner sit for 15 minutes, without talking, playing, reading, anything... just sit. The first day we enforced the chart, everyone spent almost the entire day sitting! The next day, everyone spent at least one turn sitting... and since then, we have had very, very few incidences!

A few other offenses we have on the chart so far are things like lying, yelling, talking back to parents, grumbling or bad attitudes, interrupting, etc. Things that can sometimes be vague enough to make discipline difficult, now have an established pattern.

Another rule Michael instituted is the "one dish rule". Previously, at the end of every day, I'd have a sink full of kids' dishes - numerous cups, plates, bowls, etc. Michael determined that each day, each child would get ONE bowl, ONE plate, and ONE cup assigned to them. We use plastic dishes for the kids, so there is a variety of colors available, making it easy to remember whose is whose. At the end of each meal, they are responsible for washing their dish in the sink, and putting it up to dry. Then, when it is time for another meal, they get the same dish back. The kids love washing their dishes (fun with soap and water!) and I love not having such a full sink at the end of the day. It is working wonderfully!

It was such a blessing to have Michael take charge of what takes up alot of my day (the disciplining of the children) and take alot of the stress out of it. I'm very thankful to have a husband who takes the training and nurturing of his children in the Lord seriously!

Democracy? Republic?

I've heard the arguments - we're a democracy! no! we're a republic! But what are we really? And what are we heading towards? Here's an excerpt from the Communist Manifesto... compare it to our current policies and social programs... and ask yourself...

Nevertheless, in most advanced countries, the following will be pretty generally applicable.

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.

Please compare to the founding fathers' Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. And ask yourself... what are we, really? Where are we headed?

You MUST Watch This!!

Back in May, I posted about a new documentary coming out, called Demographic Winter. I am very excited to share that it is available in its entirety on Google Video, free... and it is excellent! It is not a religious or Christian film - it was made by secular demographers, and includes research from social scientists, economists, and others who have studied population, economy, and families for many years - and the film is the conclusions their research has brought them to. It is less than an hour, and very, very eye-opening and important. Please watch, and share with everyone. When you do watch it, please leave me a note to tell me your thoughts!

Wordless Wednesday - A View of Homeschooling

Unsettled

I believe the Lord uses rough patches to draw us nearer to Him. When something is out of whack in our spirit, we can take it as an indication that we need to do some seeking, some repenting, some being still...waiting...listening... If we are too eager to have the "best life now!" and try to avoid pain, always striving to rid our lives of unpleasantries...we may very well be drowning out the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit.

Lately I have been in that unsettled place. It has forced me to carve out extra quiet time, seeking the Lord with an earnestness that I admit isn't always there. He has convicted me of things I have been trying to hide from, is changing me in difficult ways that make me want to pull the covers over my head and stay there until its all done and over with. The beautiful thing among this more difficult time is that I know God is working. I know He is beside me, refining me, helping me transform from the rotten flesh in which I dwell into the fruitful image of His Son. There is joy among the pain... it is not separate from the pain! It is not an either/or... it is because of the pain that I can experience this deeper joy and trust in God Almighty.

So I give myself over to this death of self, knowing - believing - that whatever He has on the other side of this moment is so much better than what there is now. I am humble before the potter, I desire to be clay in His loving hands, now matter how hard the reformation may seem. And I change. By His grace and strength alone, I change. I praise Him for allowing me to be unsettled, I praise Him for His still, small voice. I praise Him for the quiet He has put upon my soul in humility. I praise Him because He is a mighty God, an awesome God, and a wonderfully merciful and loving God. I praise Him because He is God. Hallelujah!

Wordless Wednesday - A View of Homeschooling

Cultivating the Ground

Kelly at Generation Cedar has another wonderful post today, about DIRT. I love it!

DIRT is Deuteronomy 6 with flesh.

Disciple the soul.

This is relationship. Relationships are only built through time. "...when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up."

Instruct the heart.

This is communication. A constant speaking of the things we ought to do. "You shall talk of them..."

Renew the mind.

This is transformation through the power of God's Word. This is reading Scripture, memorizing Scripture, posting Scripture, singing Scripture. "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and gates."

Train the will.

This is forming habits. Habits will be formed by the constant practice of the three things above. The will is trained by the daily practice and reminding of what is right and good.

This is our job. It is full-time, constant, tedious, and marvelous. This is The Great Commission, making disciples of our children, equipping them to make disciples of others when they are fully trained.

By the way, don't you think it's neat that DIRT is also metaphorical in the sense that we are planting seeds, and they will only thrive to the degree that the DIRT is properly cultivated?

They will become disciples of something, of someone. We will still be responsible.

It reminds me of how much mention there is in scripture regarding growing things, cultivating the ground, good soil vs the alternatives, reaping and sowing, bearing fruit, withering away. In Psalm 128 there is a beautiful comparison of children to strong olive plants. Its incredible how many examples there are!

I don't know much about gardening, other than that in order to be successful, it requires many things:

• time
• attention
• purpose
  
• nurturing
  
• patience
• pulling away weeds

How much more do young souls need?! I pray that as a mother, I always keep in foresight my purpose and calling to these little ones the Lord has given me. I pray that their hearts may become fertile ground, in which the seeds of the gospel can be planted, take deep, strong root, and grow into a life and love that bears much fruit. It doesn't - it can't! - happen by accident, or while I'm busy living "my life". Mothering has to be intentional, purposeful, and sacrificial. The only way to cultivate the ground is to dig in and get dirty! It won't happen by standing on the sidelines.

One Word Answers

I tend to talk too much :-) So this will be fun! My cousin Sarah tagged me in this one-word only meme - I have to answer each question with only one word. Then I pass it along to others to do the same. Here it goes!

1. Where is your cell phone?
counter

2. Where is your significant other?
basement

3. Your hair color?
brown

4. Your mother?
joyful

5. Your father?
athletic

6. Your favorite thing?
God

7. Your dream last night?
none

8. Your dream/goal?
service

9. The room you're in?
office

10. Your hobby?
pregnancy ;-)

11. Your fear?
loss

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
wherever

13. Where were you last night?
hospital

14. What you're not?
male

15. One of your wish-list items?
homebirth

16. Where you grew up?
Northeast

17. The last thing you did?
typed

18. What are you wearing?
pjs

19. Your TV?
off

20. Your pet?
lab

21. Your computer?
compaq

22. Your mood?
joyful

23. Missing someone?
parents

24. Your car?
suburban!

25. Something you're not wearing?
socks

26. Favorite store?
dunno?

27. Your summer?
hot

28. Love someone?
many

29. Your favorite color?
blue

30. When is the last time you laughed?
today

31. Last time you cried?
unsure

I'll tag 5 people to continue the game!

Marcy
Manda
Jessi
Heather
Stephanie

Have fun!

Tiny Bundle

Yesterday, our friends the Jordan Family welcomed their 7th little one into the world! Priscilla Lynn joined brothers Nehemiah, Mordecai, Barnabas and Jeremiah, and sisters Hadassah and Deborah - who are all thrilled to have another little girl in the family! We rejoice with them and praise the Lord for His wonderful blessings and this new life!! Here's a few pictures of Priscilla:

Sweet Song

I just came across this song by Steven Curtis Chapman, called "One Heartbeat at a Time", which he wrote to encourage his wife in the day-to-day life of raising their children. This video only plays a portion of it, but the entire lyrics are down below. To hear the whole song, you have to purchase the album ;-)

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Oh, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"
Every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
They're just like the drops of rain over time
They become a river

And you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
How you're changing the world
You're changing the world

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
Oh, I believe that you
You are changing the world
One little heartbeat
At a time

And you're changing the world

Fascinating

Terry from Ornaments of Grace posted about this fascinating article that was recently run in the Washington Post. It really interested me - the basic summary is that a 30 year study has shown that men who believe in "traditional" or "complementarian" roles for men and women (meaning they are equal in value but serve different, but complimenting roles and purposes in life) make, on average, $11,000 more annually than men who believe in the "egalitarian" view (men and women are equal in value, roles, and purpose).

Terry's points, and I agree with her completely on this, is that a man who is the sole bread winner for the home, or believes he should be, has more motivation to work hard to provide, and also has more support at home (taking additional stress away from his duties, allowing him to focus on providing), than men whose wives also work. It makes pretty logical sense to me!

After reading it, I was sure to take a minute to thank my wonderful husband for being such a hard working man, dedicated to providing for us! And, of course, to thank the Lord, because Michael and I both know that His hand has been what has carried us through and provided for us, first and foremost!

Here's a direct link to Terry's blog post on the topic. If you are brave, also check out the other blog post she linked to, its a doozy!

Also, another post Terry did last week really hit the nail on the head for me, expressing what I, also, believe about the issues of salvation, the Biblical roles of men, women and family, and so on. Its important to remember what are the "hills to die on", versus doctrinal principles worth taking a stand for, and keep them in perspective! See "Where I Stand" to see what I mean. :-)

Wordless Wednesday - A View of Homeschooling