Closing Up Shop...

It will be pretty quiet on the blog front this year, as I've decided to try and focus some of my extra time in other efforts.  There might be one or two random posts, but don't be waiting in anxious anticipation.  :)

If-Then

A few years ago when we moved to Texas I was looking for something to help me in my consistency with discipline, and something with a more Biblical approach.  I had a few ideas, but hadn't put anything together. 

I had managed to make the last few meetings of the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group before they took a break for the summer and one of the Mom's on their "Mom Panel" had suggested a very basic If/Then chart.  If you do "this"...Then "this" will happen.

I originally ordered the If-Then chart from Doorposts; the website where the Mom mentioned above had gotten the idea.  It didn't turn out to be exactly what I wanted, but it still gave me the basis and inspiration for making my own.  They have a lot of other great resources as well!

Why a discipline chart, you ask?  Well, here are just some of my arguments for it...

1.  The chart helps me to stay consistent with what consequence is given for each "offense". 

• They say consistency is key in discipline and I believe it is very true not only with what and when, or how often, but that the consequence remains stable.  If I'm just aggravated and spout off whatever punishment I want, one day it might be time out, one day it might be a chore, one day it might be a spanking...there is an uncertainty left for the child to question what Mom's mood might produce.  I've also noticed in the past that if I'm hopping around on the consequence it seems I find myself saying, "Nothing I seem to do is working!"  Normally, because I don't stick with anything long enough to give it a chance to work.
• In our home, we do spankings.  On occassion, the boys will loose a privledge along with a spanking, but we have found the a spanking (done the correct way) produces the best results.

2.  The chart helps Tim and I to stay consistent with each other.

• When this idea first presented itself, I made sure to run it by Tim first.  In all honesty, I think he thought I was a little crazy.  He didn't think it was really needed and argued that our parents didn't need one.  After hearing some of my thoughts on the subject, he agreed to give it a go.  We sat down and reviewed the categories together and came to agreement on what the consequences should be for each child.  Before we began implementing the chart we reviewed it with the boys so that they were well aware of the expectations and the consequences.  The boys know that whether Mom is around, or Dad, that if they lie, the consequence will be the same.  There is no surprise when the consequence is given.

3.  It helps me to not punish or spank out of anger.

• We keep our chart in the bathroom with a spoon.  I can say that 99% of the time if I spank my child right when the offense occurs it is most likely out of anger and frustration and that is a sin on my part.  And in all honesty, sometimes it happens.  I have to seek forgiveness from God and my child over it.  BUT, if I have to stop what I'm doing and go to the bathroom and follow the chart, then it gives myself time to calm down.  The chart is set up to follow a certain order.  Before the consequence comes God's Word.  I don't know about you, but it's hard to be angry after reading His Word.  Therefore, the discipline then becomes what it's meant to be..discipline, not a whiplash of emotions.

4.  It brings us back to the Gospel.

• In Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp it states "The central focus of parenting is the gospel.  You need to direct not simply the behavior of your children, but the attitudes of their hearts.  You need to show them not just the 'what' of their sin and failure, but the 'why'."  Having a scripture linked with the behavior gives us a very clear picture that Christ expects our hearts to be just as pure as our actions and we are given another opportunity to share with our children the importance of His Word. 

5.  It's goal is restoration/reconciliation.

• Again, the chart is set in order.  Just as we don't begin with the consequence, we don't end with it either.  We end with the attitude/behavior that God would like for them to choose the next time the situation might present itself.  We end with an "I love you" and with hugs, and I would like to start ending in prayer as well.  Then if needed, they are to go reconcile themselves with the one that was offended.  Just as God's purpose in disciplining us is to restore ourselves to Himself, our goal in disciplining our children is to bring them back into a right relationship with us and their Creator.  We also hope that in teaching them this idea of reconciliation it will create a habit that will hopefully be instilled in them in childhood that will translate into their relationships as adults. 

• Is this chart "fail-proof"?  No.
• Do we have perfect children?  Of course not!
• As parents, are we well seasoned and have it all figured out? Again, OF COURSE NOT!!
• Do we always follow the chart to a "t"?  No.  We easily get off course.  Many times we have to stop and start over fresh.
• Does this chart cover all discipline issues?   It's not specific, but focuses on the main heart attitudes that we find in our children.  While every situation is different, we believe that most can be "traced-back" to one of these heart issues.  We ask the Lord for discernment and clarity in deciding what the "heart" of the issue is and discipline that.  Again, we aim not to discipline the action, but the attitude!
• Since using this chart have our children stopped having problems with these behaviors/heart issues?  An overwhelming...Of course not!  By disciplining consistently, I do believe that I can see a visible change, but it does not mean that we never have those problems again.  The chart is meant to be used for years and to help with our consistency in parenting.
• Am I claiming this is the best/only way to discipline your child?  No.  I believe that every child is different and that the Lord will grant wisdom in the area of raising them if we ask.  There are TONS of charts and ideas on how to discipline your child.  I just wanted to share something that has helped us.  Keep in mind the chart was orignially created to help ME in staying consitent in my discipline.  It's a tool that I felt I needed. 

So now I've talked all about it you can go here to print the chart that I created to use for our family.  I left a space at the top empty for you to add your child's name, and I left the consequences column empty.  You can print this chart and fill it out by hand and then laminate it to make it a little more durable.  We have a full size 8.5 x 11 page printed that we keep in our bathroom, and I have a small 4x6 that I normally keep in the car or my purse for when we are out and about.  If you would like to be able to edit it yourself, I would be more than happy to email it to you.  Just leave me a comment with your email address!

Our New Favorite

Do you and your kids listen to music?  I love music, and the boys love music, but sometimes (most of the time) I just forget to turn it on.  I've never been a fan of most of the kids albums you can pick up at the store.   They are just way too...I don't know...annoying.?  I purchased one kids CD recently and I am not a fan.  Kind of regret getting it. 

 

My friend has suggested this album twice now, and I finally bought it. 

 

 

 

We LOVE it!  As far as kid's music goes...it is heavenly!  I ended up buying it on I-tunes and we've had it for about 2 weeks now.  I catch myself singing these songs all the time...in the Commissary, while I'm making dinner, when I'm getting ready in the morning.  Some of the boys' favorites are "I'm Adopted", "Mexican Rhapsody" (which ALWAYS makes me hungry), and "I Wanna Help".  Some of the songs are just silly and fun.  Some carry an extra amount of humor that only mom and dad can enjoy.  There are also lots of songs that point to God: how He's saved us, how He loves us, how we can talk to Him about anything.  Love, love, love this album!  (I should have listened to you earlier Krystle!)

 

 

If you go to my friend's blog, A Little of This, she has links to where you can hear samples of the songs before buying, along with a few of the other Slugs & Bugs albums.  You won't regret getting any of these I'm sure!

 

 

You can purchase them through The Rabbit Room, Amazon.com, or I-tunes.  I anticipate I'll be purchasing the other album soon, along with looking into the other suggestions Krystle has on her blog.

 

 

Do you have any albums that both you and your kids enjoy?!!

Colin's 4th!

 

 

This morning Colin woke up as a 4 year old!!!! 

 

 

 

 Definitely not a baby anymore....

 

 

1 month old

 

1 year old

2 years old

 

3 years old

Colin's 20 questions.....

1. My favorite color is blue.
2. My favorite snack is a Poptart.
3. My favorite movie is Ninja and Batman.
4. The coolest person on earth is Batman.
5. My favorite thing to learn in school is letters.
6. The thing I do most awesomely is games.
7. If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Grandma’s house and Connor’s house.
8. The book that I am loving right now is Captain America.
9. Three words that describe me are funny, smart, and a superhero.
10. When I was little I used to…I don’t know.
11. My favorite season of the year is snow and rain (aka Winter and Spring).
12. One food I really dislike is pizza.
13. If I could wish for only one thing it would be for candy.
14. My best memory is when Daddy had his 4 –wheeler and his motorcycle.
15. My best friend is Miss Kelsie.
16. My favorite song is Son Rock Kids Camp (from VBS last year).
17. My favorite game is racing on the Wii.
18. On my cake this year I want all the toys from my room that I can fit on there.
19. The candy I like the best is suckers.
20. When I grow up I want to be a big Ninja dad.

 

 

Happy 4th Birthday Colin!!!!!



First Trimester Fog

I woke up Sunday morning feeling invigorated.  I think the First Trimester Fog is starting to lift!!!  Praise the Lord!!!

 

 

Although, I still managed an hour and a half nap yesterday :), things do seem to be getting better.  My brain has been able to entertain a thought through to it's completion!  The nausea seems to be few and farther in between.  In the last two days alone I've started and finished about three extra projects...plus cooked dinner (that was something other than grilled cheese or hot dogs)!!!  That's quite an improvement!  I've managed to keep up with some of the regular chores the last few days, ran two errands off post, and typed up a few blog posts!

 

 

The first trimester definitely doesn't hit me as hard as it does others, but it still makes a visible impact!  Grateful to be leaving it behind!   Continuing to pray for a smooth, healthy road ahead!

 

 

Homeschooling: Trial and Error

We started the beginning of our Homeschooling Adventure back in July.  We have officially completed 5 weeks and we took one week off last week for VBS.

 

The first 3 weeks seemed to go super smooth.  It almost seemed like I was doing something wrong, or leaving something out.  It helped that we were able to ease into the daily requirements.  IE We didn't add daily reading, or seat work (aka homework), until week two or three.  It also helped that Blaine still had a clear preference for a looooong morning nap which gave me plenty of time to focus on the material I needed to with Ryan.  Plus, when things are new they are exciting.  Ryan was attentive for the most part; very excited for learning cursive.  Much of the material the first few weeks seemed very easy for Ryan as well; a review.  Colin was fairly content just sitting at the table coloring or doing a puzzle in the living room.

 

I guess you can call that the "Honeymoon Period" in a sense.  Easy, sweet, new.

 

Weeks 4 and 5 added some new obstacles.  Mainly in part to Blaine switching (overnight it seems) to afternoon naps.  Blaine isn't really a good "toy-player" at this point...he likes to "destroy".  The destruction stage is my least favorite.  If you haven't experienced this stage it's pretty much where they go into every room and pull out whatever they want to and leave it on the floor and move onto the next room.  It's not always that bad...it takes time to train them.  Time and attention.  Two things that have been difficult while in the other room helping Ryan.  I have a few toy items that I have tried entertaining him with in the same room, but the destruction part of him shines through and he normally plays with it for a second and then gets bored and leaves it on the floor to go find something else.  (More training needed there as well, I know!)

 

Colin will still sit there and color, or I'll give him a few "papers" to do.  If he has papers he requires more one-on-one attention/direction than Ryan does.  Ryan gets easily distracted by him and Colin is happy to distract.  :)

 

It became clear very quickly that the way we had the schedule set up the first 3 weeks, wasn't going to work anymore.  The end of week 4 and most of week 5 was a conglomerate of experimentation with the schedule.  Don't have it figured out yet. 

 

I know it's going to take more work on my part to find constructive things for Colin and Blaine to do as well.  I have come across a few ideas, but am still lacking some of the energy needed to get them prepped.  (This is when I wish I could get like a week off, with an unlimited amount of energy supply, to set up some things that will make the rest of our home run more smoothly.)

 

Ryan has already shown moments of boredom and disinterest.  One of his tests in particular showed a lack of any real effort on his part; messy writing, skipping entire problems.  (This of course left a great opportunity for us to talk about working for the Lord in everything that we do!)  Sometimes it seems like there is A LOT of seat work.  While he has already shown improvement in some areas, there is a part of me that questions whether or not this curriculum is the best for him.

 

Although, I wanted a curriculum that was laid out for me to begin with, my "Type A"/Square personality is also kicking in and feeling the need to complete EVERY little thing and to get it done quickly.  To get it done so I can check it off the list for the day.  I pray that my heart and mind will be better attuned to the bigger picture.  That I can cherish that time with him. 

 

I'm still getting used to maneuvering through the materials and in finding a way of organizing it that works best for us.  I tried pulling out most of the seat work/tests ahead of time and then had trouble finding where I put them when needed.  Better labeling might help...or just leaving them in the books till needed.  Some of the teacher manuals seem choppy...in the sense that I feel like I keep going back and forth between books.  I'm sure it will start to feel more and more normal as we go.

 

We are covering the basics...Bible Memory, Phonics, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.  Science and History will be added in about 5 more weeks I think.  I still feel like there's something missing.  I know I want to spend more time in character training and spiritual training, but I'm not exactly sure what this will/should look like at this point.  I've collected a few resources over the years, just unsure of how to put them into "play".

 

There is also a Homeschooling Group here in Bamberg.  I've met a few of the other HS moms over the last few weeks, but we have our first picnic with the group this Wednesday.  The HS group offers Art, Gym, and Choir once a week.  I would really like to participate in the Art and Gym classes, but not exactly sure how it's going to work with our schedule yet.  The classes are two different days, but at 1 PM.  Blaine's new nap time.  :)  I really want to go and participate, and hope that Colin would enjoy it as well; just not sure how it's going to pan out yet.  I've heard that some of the mom's are willing to help carpool too.  The building where the classes are offered aren't too far away and I've thought about doing some pre-training with Ryan and letting him ride his bike there and back if needed.  I think the last two options are both doable, but neither of them include me being there which I feel bummed about.  Ryan is also signed up for Pee-Wee Soccer this fall, so we might forgo Gym to start with, that way Blaine only has one nap to miss/postpone each week.  This is another area that will be trial and error.

 

The other obstacle that I've been working on/praying about is PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel).  They meet Wednesday mornings from 9-11:30 AM.  From the beginning it has been my wish to do school 4 days a week, without loosing time in the school year.  This would leave a day for catch-up/fun/chores/etc.  Plus it would work great for those weeks that Tim has a 3-day or 4-day weekend.  I'm still in experimental mode though as how to fit 5 days of curriculum into 4.  We tried doing two days in one..which seemed to work in some things, but it was pretty stressful overall.  This week I think we are going to try doubling up in one subject per day and see how that goes.  I just need to find a system to keep track of what lesson I'm on in each subject then.  PWOC Kick-off is this week as well.  I plan on attending to see what classes they will be offering then we will skip out early for our HS Picnic.

 

My heart is very torn on PWOC.  While I have been encouraged by some other HS mom's (not from here) to attend if possible, I also know that there are different season's in our lives and I'm not sure this is my season for PWOC.  At the same time, I yearn for spiritual growth, challenges, and spiritual accountability (little of which we are getting from Chapel).  I know the best thing that I can do for my kids is to seek after God whole-heartedly.  While I know much of that seeking has to be done on my own time, I am looking for a "tool" in pushing me in that direction.  Is PWOC it?  Or will I maybe find it in one of the other HS moms?

 

All that said, I don't regret this decision to HS at all!  I am looking forward to hopefully meeting some more of the seasoned HS mom's and glean from their wisdom and experience (especially the ones with boys!).  I expect most of this first year will be a whole lot of trial and error.  Praying for continued direction.

 

Stranger Danger!

My friend posted a link to this article, "Tricky People are the New Strangers" on Pinterest just the other day.  Sometimes there is a fine line when teaching our kids about "stranger danger".  We want to teach them wisdom, but not instill fear into their hearts.  I thought this was a great article, and something new and different.  Hope you enjoy!

My Frustration Update

I know a lot of you have been praying for me, so I figured I'd go ahead and post an update concerning my back.

Since my last post I continued to search out various options on what to do for my back pain.  I had stopped doing the stretches the Physical Therapy guy gave me and it seemed to help some, but I was still having pains in my left leg and I even started to limp.  The following Monday I went for my first OB appointment hoping that she could maybe refer me to someone.  According to her, the pains in my leg were due to the fact that my pelvic muscles aren't strong enough.  Uhhhh.......ok.  She gave me an unofficial referral to another physical therapist.  I would of taken on unofficial referral to a chiropractor, but why pay for a physical therapist when the one on post was free and didn't seem to be helping.?.  Another dead end.

I went ahead and set up another appointment with the Physical Therapist on Post that I had been seeing.  I went in at 3 PM on Wednesday afternoon.  He gave me a different stretch to do, and I did probably about 15 repetitions of it in his office.  He agreed that there was probably a pinched nerve, but according to him..nothing he could do about it.  About 15/20 minutes after I left his office, I could tell that my leg was getting worse.  After dinner, I pretty much went back in my room and laid on my bed.  My 9 PM I couldn't put any pressure on my left leg and couldn't walk on my own.  (I can't tell you how grateful I am that my husband is home!)

The following three days were ROUGH!  The mornings were always better, but by lunch I was normally in a lot of pain and just plain tired.  I was still having trouble walking.  Usually once I got up and going I could do it on my own, just with a limp.  Ryan was a great help during the day when Tim was at work to help get me across the living room until I could get to a wall to help support myself.

In the meantime, I had also contacted the local Yoga instructor hearing great things about her and hoping that she could help in some way.  It looked promising at first, but then I told her I was pregnant and again...I got a no.  Another dead end.  She currently does not have her pre-natal yoga training and didn't feel comfortable coming up with a specialized treatment for me.

On Thursday morning, I was able to have a German spouse come over and help me make some phone calls to a few chiropractors.  The first one, and the closest (about 40 minutes away) was on vacation till August 14th.  We called the 2nd closest, in Munich, which is about 2 hours and 15 minutes away.  I made an appointment for the following Tuesday.

On Sunday, I was also finally able to talk to my sister.  My sister is gifted in the medical field and I can't keep track of what she's trained in or how many degrees she has...but she has done Sports Medicine for years, and is EMT certified...about the only two I can remember.  After about 5 minutes of me explaining my pain to her...over the phone...she knew exactly what the problem was (later confirmed by the chiropractor), and in about 10 minutes gave me about 5 exercises to do that should help release some of the pressure on my pinched nerve.  LOVE HER!!  (Makes me less fond of the Physical Therapy guy here.)

Spare you some of the other details in between...a friend and I drove down to Munich on Tuesday and let me just say....I LOVE CHIROPRACTORS!!!!  She wasn't able to give me a full adjustment since I'm pregnant but whatever she did do made a HUGE difference.  It wasn't an immediate fix since I still limped out of the office.  I felt sore that night so I made sure to ice when I got home, but I felt 10x's better on Wednesday, and by Thursday "practically" normal!!!  Best part; I haven't limped since Tuesday! 

I don't plan on going back unless it's gets unbearable again, but I'm so glad to know where they are and to be done with the search of having to locate one.  I'm praying that by sticking with the exercises my sister gave me, and scheduling a daily walk back into my day, it will help to keep the problem at it's minimum.  I really do appreciate all your prayers!  As a celebration of feeling better, we cleaned the house this weekend!  (Something that hasn't been done in a few weeks!)

My Old/New Frustration {Some Steam Involved}

So, if some of you remember last April (2011) my back decided one night after driving home from church that it was tired and didn't feel like functioning like it should.  I had trouble getting out of the car and I ended up having to "drop" Blaine down into his crib cause I couldn't bend over.  After a few visits to my local chiropractor I able to move again, and for the most part back to "normal".  Since it wasn't in our budget to go as often as they wanted me to I normally held out as long as I could and then went in for an adjustment. 

I think my last adjustment was in August of 2011.  I've had some problems here and there since we've moved, but if I waited about a week it would seem to settle down.  About a month ago I started having problems again.  Don't know why.  Just did.

About a week prior I had been at the Clinic to see my doctor and she gave me a referral for the Physical Therapy office that is on post.  I wasn't having back pain at the time, but wanted to try and be prepared for when it came.  I made an appointment to see him and got in about a week after my pain started.  It has been about five weeks and I have been to see him 3 times.  He gave me one specific stretch to do 5-6 times a day, 10 repetitions each. 

I originally went in with pain in my lower back and to the right.  This is generally where it shows up.  The stretches seemed to have taken care of that problem, but after doing them consistently for about a week it seemed to create a new, more painful pain.  The last time I saw him, about a week and a half ago, on a Monday.  I told him that I thought my pain had changed and it was moving more south to the lower of my lower back and even down into my tailbone area.  I had started having trouble standing up after sitting down for more than 30 seconds at a time.  My back locks up and it takes me a minute to stand up straight before I can even take a step.  (No jumping up quickly for anything/anyone!)  He encouraged me to keep up with the stretches and that my back locking up is my body's way of warning me and that I needed to stretch more. 

Advice taken and I went home and continued with my stretches as often as I could.  By Wednesday, I had pains shooting down my left leg whenever I stood or walked.  I could almost immediately feel my back tighten up anytime I sat down.  I had trouble getting my pants on, getting in and out of the shower, rolling over, etc.  I couldn't sit through the sermon on Sunday.  We sat in the back knowing that I would have to probably stand up for part of it.  Prior, I could find some comfort in lying down, but by Thursday/Friday, the pain was constant and there was no relief in anything.  Two nights I cried myself to sleep, begging/praying for God to take the pain from me if it be His will.  Many nights I've gone from bed, to couch, to bed trying to get comfortable and praying to fall back asleep.

This past Sunday, I stopped doing the stretches.  I noticed a significant difference Monday morning.  The pain isn't gone.  I still have trouble going from sitting to a standing position.  I still have some pain shooting down my leg, that occasionally causes me to walk with a limp.  The pain is still constant and is starting to wear on me.  I'm exhausted!  (That could be in part to normal 1st trimester tiredness as well.)

I have also been trying my best to search out other options the last two weeks.  I finally received my medical records, x-rays from my chiropractor in Texas.  From asking around, there is no local German chiropractor.  I had heard that there was a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) stationed at the Clinic here in Bamberg.  A Doctor of Osteopathy has the ability to do spinal adjustments.  I had tracked him down and was praying that this was my answer.  I got an appointment with my doctor on Monday to hopefully get the referral to see this D.O.  I must have been exhausted and overwhelmed cause the second the nurse asked me how long ago my pain started..I started bawling.  Bawled my eyes out in front of two nurses and my doctor.  :)

And it didn't get better.  The D.O. won't touch me cause I'm pregnant.  Bawling continues.  My  doctor pretty much gave me three options.  1.  Take Tylenol and use some topical rub.  2.  If the pain got to be unbearable, I could go to the Klinikum (the German hospital) and they could hospitalize me.  3.  Hope that my OB can refer me to someone that can help me (which I had also previously considered as an option). 

So right now, I am still praying and holding onto the hope that my OB will know someone that is willing to work with me.  I'm willing to drive a few hours too!  And I don't care if they don't speak English!  I can find someone to go with me to translate if needed.  I had been putting off scheduling my first OB appointment since I'm still so early in my pregnancy, but after my appointment with my doctor I went ahead and called to schedule.  I have an appointment this coming Monday.

I think overall, it's so frustrating knowing that all I need is ONE adjustment!!!  I just need to find that one person who is willing/trained to touch a pregnant person.  While chiropractors seem as common as churches in the states, I can't seem to find one over here.  I really hope my OB knows someone! 

I also went ahead and scheduled another appointment with the Physical Therapy guy as well.  Maybe he can give me a different stretch for me to do.  I've googled a few myself and one seems to help some, so we'll see how that goes.

Other options we've considered.....I've looked into getting a massage just hoping it might move things gently back into place.  You have to be between month 3 and month 7 for a massage.  I'm still a few weeks shy of month 3.  This next idea is crazy, but it has crossed my mind, and Tim even suggested it this morning.  Buying a ticket and flying home to get an adjustment.  Craziness, right?!  Probably not really an option, but that seems to be where we are in our desperate-ness.

I am getting weary and worn out.  I am fed-up with the constant pain and not being able to perform my daily tasks!

Seasons

"Seeing life in seasons enables us to get some perspective in our lives.  In every season there will be trials and joys.  Hardly anything lasts forever.  We need to see our life in seasons and rejoice in the season at hand.  As we relax and begin to soak up the unique blessings of this particular season, we will begin to experience and to enjoy the incredible richness of life."

                                                            -Excerpt from And Then I Had Kids by Susan Alexander Yates

My friend recommended this book to me and I just started reading it this past week.  I'm only in the second chapter, but really enjoying the wisdom she has to share.  I plan on sharing more when I'm done. 

Although the paragraph above is speaking more to the seasons of mothering it fit perfectly to what I knew these last few months were for me in the world of blogging.  A season.  I have thought about it several times these last few months. 

Since we had our Internet connected, about mid-late March, I have had (for the most part) something posted five days a week.  That's a lot!  I have enjoyed every minute of it, but I knew it wouldn't last forever.  I am coming to the end of that season.  I love having this place to write and I'm not giving it up, it just won't be nearly as consistent. 

I am about to head into a new season that I know will take up a lot of my time.  Homeschooling.  I have prayed for his opportunity for years. Starting this coming Monday we will be starting Ryan's 1st Grade School Year (which reminds me I still have to go pick up his Kindergarten records from the Elementary School).  I still have a lot of studying/planning/organizing to do this week!  Praying that in the newness of homeschooling, that I'm sure will bring chaos and frustrations and doubts about the choice in general, that I would be able to step back and look at this as a season and truly be able to cherish the opportunity I have to teach and mold my boy's. 

**Prayers appreciated!!**

Book Review {Crazy Love}

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be make more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

Excerpt from Crazy Love.  Intro of Ch.6

(www.amazon.com)

Visible Pain

We live on a small post.  I'm not good with numbers...but it's small.  This past week a majority of the 173rd deployed.  It is a very visible pain.

The Lord saw fit to keep Timothy behind and we couldn't be more grateful for that blessing!  We just surpassed his one year mark returning home from his last deployment and if you haven't heard already, we are expecting baby #4!

It has been really hard to watch everyone go.  It has been even harder to watch the families left behind struggle through the first few days.  My heart hurts for them.  Tears have been shed for them.  It seems everywhere you turn there is someone else who's husband just left. 

In our three deployments I don't think we have ever felt the weight of a deployment like we do now.  For the first, we were only dating/engaged and I was no where near his post.  The second..I was in OK, he deployed out of TX.  At that time, I only knew one other woman who's husband deployed.  Our deployments overlapped for a bit, so we spent a lot of time together for a while.  :)  The most recent, back in Texas it was more of a reality.  There were many other ladies of the church that we went to who's husbands were military and they had either just come off a deployment or were going into a deployment within the next year. 

This past week not everyone was deployed, but out of the friends we have made so far, and the soldiers that have been coming over on the weekends...they have all gone.  All but one...and he leaves within the next two weeks. :( 

Again, I'm not great with numbers, but with the Unit that just left, and another Unit that is already gone, and one more about to leave, I would say it's safe to say that a majority of the post that is left are wives and children.

Even the chapel was more barren than normal this past Sunday and there seemed to be an unspoken weight that surrounded the morning.

In PWOC we have been going thru the Basic Series by Francis Chan.  This past week was the video on Fellowship and what God intended it to be; demonstrated in the early church.  There was a topic interwoven through the morning though that was obviously only orchestrated by God Himself.  Lonliness.  In a post this small, so far away from everything that is "familiar", a lot of women tend to pull into themselves and struggle with isolation and lonliness.  Add on top of that a deployment. 

For me, this truth seemed to cry out this past week.  The pain that is so real to this post became much more evident.

The pain is visible in the faces of the wives left behind. The wound is deep. In the last five days alone three new faces/names of women have been laid heavy on my heart as the Lord has revealed them to me. They are hurting. They are struggling.  They are crying out psalms of desperation.  Some are Christians.  Some of them are not.

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.  -Ecclesiastes 4:1

My heart wishes to take their pain away.  How can I possibly be a friend to all of them?!  How can I possibly serve all of them?!  But as another friend said recently in her blog, "I am not their Savior."  He is.  Such a great reminder that nothing I do for these women is as great as what He can give them.  Generally speaking, I can provide dinner, a playdate, and a listening ear.  He can provide a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7).  He IS the great comfortor.  He is the great sustainer!

The Son (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (OUR SUSTAINER!)  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. -Colossians 1:15-20

There is nothing greater than to be securely held in the arms of our Creator!

I just pray that we would be able to create a fellowship with everyone the Lord leads our way; leaving them more deeply aware of the Savior that He is.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -Ephesians 3:14-21

 Even though my husband is here, I believe my heart will continue aching and I will be praying just as ferevently as the rest for the next 9 months to pass quickly!

Never A Good Time

There is never a good time for your computer to go on the fritz.  Tuesday afternoon, our computer decided to do something like this....

(Pic Credit)

I normally don't have a good "working" relationship with computers in general.  I've owned 3 desktops, and this is our 2nd laptop.  During the two years I worked at a bank, I went through 2 computers as well.  The "blue screen of death" and I are well aquainted; unfortunately.

This time it was a virus though.  It completely incapacitated the computer and it wouldn't allow me to restore to an earlier point, or connect to certain websites to try and fix the problem.  I've had similar problems in on our old laptop, but I was always able to restore to an earlier point and time; therefore saving some of my stuff.  No such grace this time.  One of Tim's friends who is good with computers was even over at the house and he said there was only one option.

I had to wipe it COMPLETELY! 

We lost 6 months worth of home videos which I hadn't burned to a DVD yet.  I lost about 20 recipes that I had recently typed up; about half of which didn't get printed since our printer has been tempermental lately and I'm not sure I can even go back and find the original source on some of them.  I lost more documents that I wrote up myself for the Home Management Binder I've been working on.  I lost my "Blog Stamp" that I just made and have been using for pictures.  (Threw together a quick one, but don't like it.)  And Tim lost all of his I-tunes music/videos.

It hurt a little.  Cried myself to bed while my husband held me.

That was about two days ago now.  It still hurts a little, but I also know it could have been much worse.  Thankfully, Tim bought me an external hard drive the last time he deployed so ALL of my pictures are stored on it.  I really try not to keep a lot on the desktop, just in case something like this happens, but I just hadn't gotten around to backing them up on the external yet.

In about 24 hours though I had most of the drivers reinstalled, and about 4/6 other programs that we use.  Now, I'm just trying to re-do one thing at a time without stressing about it.

Now that we've been hit, we know it's only a matter of time before it happens again.  After doing some asking around and research I think we are both convinced we need to buy a Mac next time around.  Hopefully this one will last till next tax season!!!

A Dozen Reasons Not to Use Color Catchers

Have you heard of the Shout Color Catcher Sheets?  I can't remember where exactly, but I did hear they work amazingly well. 

(Picture source)

I had at one point thought about trying them out because it can take me anywhere around 20 minutes just to sort the laundry!  (Granted I only do laundry once a week; normally anywhere between 6-10 loads.)

It has become VERY clear the last three weeks that these are currently not an option for me!  The following are the "treasures" that I found in our laundry baskets the last few weeks.

1. Lego Ship
2. My Bible (Two weeks in a row.  I normally keep it on my nightstand.  It was there on Saturday and on Sunday when I went to get it for church, it was gone.)
3. A Pen
4. Dirty Tissue
5. A sock that was ripped in half. ??Really?? (My hubby's contribution)
6. Empty Gatorade bottle
7. Clean Tissue
8. Tennis Ball
9. Basketball
10. Football
11. Glow sticks
12. Embossing Glitter (Thankfully still in the jar with the lid closed!)

Most of these I'm 99% sure were Blaine's doing.

 

It's Contagious!

A friend shared this link a few weeks back on FB and I loved it!  It's a wonderful article on Missions.  It's amazing how the passionate, radical life of one can cause a chain reaction!  I didn't want to forget where I saw it, plus I wanted to share it with you!  Enjoy!

Book Review {7}: Part 2

In continuing my review of 7, I wanted to share some quotes from the book and how they have challenged me.

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"If a fast doesn't include any sacrifices, then it's not a fast. The discomfort is where the magic happens."

"But the feast has a partner in the rhythm of the gospel: the fast. It's practice is unmistakable in Scripture. Hundreds of times we see reduction, pouring out, abstinence, restraint."

".....discomfort creates space for the Holy Spirit to move."

It's been a while since I've fasted.  From anything.   On purpose.  With a purpose to obtain something greater.  God doesn't always call us to fast from food.  Perhaps a fast from spending money, or Facebook. 

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"The careful study of the Word has a goal, which is not the careful study of the Word. The objective is to discover Jesus and allow Him to change our trajectory. Meaning, a genuine study of the Word results in believers who feed poor people and open up their guest rooms; they're adopting and sharing, mentoring and intervening."

How is the Word causing change in my life?  If it's not causing change, then I'm not really reading it/devoting myself to it.

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The following is a quote from Month 4; fasting from media.  Her family also participated with her this month.

"Between the fighting, crying, whining, and blaming, I hit a metaphorical wall. I wanted to turn on a movie and silence their little mouths. A nice screen trance would settle the tumultuous waters. Instead, I sent everyone to bedrooms until I gave the word. We have to deal with rather than anesthetizing tension with TV or video games. It's easier to bypass relational snags with a convenient distraction, forfeiting the chance to improve problem solving and listening skills, I don't want my kids to be more comfortable interacting with a computer screen than a human being. We stay the course until we've resolved an issue, not allowing 'Phineas & Ferb' to fill the space instead. This is harder and requires more time, but my kids will marry people and have bosses and children. Learning healthy relational skills is now or never."

How many times have I used a movie to break up the craziness?  To use that 'screen trance' that creates only a temporary solution and over -ooks the heart of the issue?

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Some quotes from Month 5, the month of Waste.

"I'm beginning to wonder if the unprecedented consumption of the earth's resources and the cavalier destruction of its natural assets is a spiritual issue as much as environmental. Like Wendell Berry wrote: 'The ecological teaching of the Bible is simply inescapable: God mad the world because He wanted it made. He thinks the world is good, and He loves it. It is His world: He has never relinquished title to it. And He has never revoked the conditions, bearing on His gift to us of the use of it, that obliges us to take excellent care of it. If God loves the world, then how might any person of faith be excused for not loving it or justified in destroying it?' "

"True reform involves purchasing fewer disposable materials in the first place, like bulk products, produce from the farmer's market, and the second-hand goods that have already shed their packaging. Best practices include reusing containers over and over, lowering the consumption of single-use materials. Recycling is probably a third-tier tactic toward genuinely reducing waste for maximum impact."

"Yes, Africa, we'll take your diamonds, gold, and oil, but you can keep your crushing poverty and disease. What does it mean to be a godly consumer? What if God's creation is more than just a commodity? If we acknowledged the sacredness of creation, I suspect it would alter the way we treated it."

I have a looooonnngg way to go on this topic.  While we half-way recycled in Texas, we are required to recycle here.  I have taken to it like every good perfectionist does...I've even already dug things back out of the trash to replace them in their proper recycle bins.  But we buy and use paper towels and paper plates like they were the next best thing to thin sliced bread.  And don't even touch my individually wrapped Kraft American Cheese!  If I ever run out of that in our house we will probably starve!  In all serious though it leads me to wonder....In what ways can I be a better consumer?  In what ways can I make better choices about what I'm buying from the get-go that will produce a better result?

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From Month 6: Spending.

"If tithing the minimum and consuming the rest is okay, then we can dismiss Jesus' ideas and act obsessed about other stuff He said....Literal obedience would require such a radical overhaul, my head is pounding. The ramifications are overwhelming."

Literal obedience would require such a radical overhaul!  While I don't believe he has called me to it all at once, He has opened my eyes even greater to how we spend the majority of our money.  We have been faithful tithers, and when there is an extra need in the church we do our best to support it as we can.  But this chapter specifically leaves me asking myself how much more can we do?  What about the rest of our money?  It still is His; not mine.  Do I really need curtains on my windows, or would that money best be used elsewhere?  Can I sacrifice something I want to give to something better?  This is something that I really struggle with.

"Would they be stunned most of us don't feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, care for the sick, or protect the widow?"

"The church the Bible described is exciting and adventurous and wrought with sacrifice. It cost believers everything, and they still came."

I believe the people of the church want something radical to live for.   None of us asks for our spouse to be partially committed; but we want to be loved passionately.  I believe we are all looking for that same passion when it comes to serving our God who calls us into something much bigger than ourselves.  An adventure that is wrought with great sacrifice but with an eternal reward.  That type of living, radical as they say, is what draws others to Christ. 

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In one section Jen talked about a mentor encouraging her to stay with other Christian families during her business travels, and not at a hotel.  Just as the early disciples relied on the hospitality of other Christians to take care of their needs as they traveled from city to city.

"This exits the expediency of consumerism and enters the realm of hospitality. There is something so nourishing about sharing your living space with people where they see your junk mail pile and see wee football schedule on the fridge and pile of shoes by the front door."

What has happened to this type of hospitality?  Looking back I remember my parents volunteering at different times when the church asked for host homes for a guest speaker, a missionary traveling through seeking support, or for other events that would require any out of town guests.  I can't remember the last time I heard this requested presented!  (Maybe I just missed it.)  The natural thing to do now-a-days is to book a hotel.  I believe this takes away the fellowship that was intended.

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"Everyone has ideas. It's confusing and overwhelming. This creates a war within, and it leaves you raw. Sometimes you're a full-blown mess over it."

 

"Take a little baby step. Tomorrow, you can take another. Offer yourself the same grace Jesus has given you. We're no good to Him stuck in paralysis."

"Proverbs: our light is the dimmest at the beginning of salvation, but it grows brighter and brighter as we go. There is no wasted scene, no futile season. God gives us what we can handle when we can handle it. We are drawn more and more deeply into the knowledge of Jesus......Do the best with what you know. When you know more, adjust the trajectory."

There is much I am learning and much that I feel God is speaking to me.  Sometimes it comes in pieces though.  IE. My eyes have only recently started to open to the reality of the slave-trade that surrounds us.  I know I can't come to grasp the entirety of it all overnight and quit consuming everything that is related.  It will take time.  It will take energy and research.  But as a friend of mine has said...I can't claim ignorance anymore.  Therefore I am responsible.

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I really. really, really, really hope you put this book on your reading list!  Jen speaks in such a relatable way, but also a way that will speak deep into your heart and make you want to change.  I only shared a few things with you and I keep thinking about all of the other stuff that was in her book that moved and challenged me just as much.  It is stuffed full of goodness!!!   

Book Review {7}: Part 1

I know in a previous post about a book review I mentioned that there are a few blogs that I come across that really seem to stir my soul and challenge my way of thinking.  As I said before Katie's blog is one of those.  Another one that I have came across a few years back is Jen Hatmaker.  I first came across her blog a few years ago when she was in the middle of a social experiment.  I only caught bits and pieces of it at the time, but her book, 7, is her personal journey through her experiment. 

(amazon.com)

The complete title of the book is 7: an experimental mutiny against excess.  In her experiment she takes seven months and fasts from something different each month.  Month 1: Clothes.  She choose seven items of clothing and wore only those seven items all month long.  Month 2:  Food.  She choose 7 foods and only ate those.  Month 3: Possessions.  She set a goal to give away 7 items from her house, per day.  Month 4:  To refrain from media.  Month 5: Waste.  This includes recycling and gardening.  Month 6: Spending.  She choose seven stores that they were allowed to spend their money at.  Month Seven:  Stress.  She limited her social and business activities.

In all honesty, I put off reading this book for a few weeks out of pure fear/selfishness for how my life is now, and what I might be called to change after reading it.  In saying that though, I do also believe that God brings certain things into our lives when He thinks we are ready for it.  Had I read this book five years ago, I might have thought she was a crazy woman and had dismissed the bigger picture.  In reading this though, my heart aches for what she is reaching for.  A radical life in service to our Lord!  I know He doesn't call all of us to leave our homes and serve as a missionary overseas, but I do know that He has called us to a ministry in my home and around my home...something greater than what I have been a part of.  I am so easily consumed by my own life.

I am confident that my review of her book will not do it justice.  Jen is a great writer to begin with and she is 100% open about who she is.  She had me in tears.  She had me laughing, out loud.  She makes you feel like she is having a conversation directly with you and you are one of her best girlfriends.  She gives you facts, and she gives you scripture.  She speaks passionately about the ways that the Holy Spirit is speaking to her.

A lot of the other reviews I have read were upset because they thought that this was a "how-to" book.  Jen clearly states that this was a record of her personal journey.  I love how she never tells you what her and her families' "end result" was.  She speaks from the experiences of her own life but encourages room for the Holy Spirit to communicate what it might mean for you and your family.  There is no formula.

The book isn't written in normal chapter sequence.  It is broken down into seven months and then Jen has taken excerpts from her daily journal during the experience during that month.  There aren't 30/31 entries in the book per month.  Some of the entries were short, but some of them were longer.  This also made for an easy read, and easy to find a stopping point.

One of the best things about this book is Jen's list in the back of about 20 companies that sell hand made items from non-slave trade organizations.  The money goes directly back to support the people that made it.  Can you say birthday gifts?!  Christmas Shopping?!  If you buy the book for nothing else, but this list...it is worth it!!!

I finished this book right around Easter, about four weeks ago.  My life hasn't changed drastically overnight.  We haven't sold all our possessions and moved to Africa.  But, I can tell you that my heart has changed.  I'm not saying all of it is due to this book, but God has certainly used it in continuing to open my eyes to something outside of myself.

Tomorrow I will share Part 2 with some quotes from the book!!