Refining Process

Much like other aspects in a Christian's life, I find the homeschooling of our three kids to be a refining process for my life. It is funny because you wouldn't think things I love so much, like books and reading and organizing could be so refining, but add them to being with three kids all day, every day and you get REFINEMENT.

I have to laugh because sometimes I just don't see it when I am in the middle of a heated discussion about long division and why it is important even though we have calculators. God uses all things in a Christian's life to refine the heart. He is constantly chipping away everything old and replacing it with more of Him.

Actually that sounds really great. As I homeschool my kids I am becoming more like Christ, when I allow Him to be in control of the homeschooling! Plus, I am being renewed! Renewal is a good thing.

So bring on the endless questions, tears, and mounds of papers needing to be dealt with. My God is a BIG God!

Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from Your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Fabric, Buttons, and Foam Oh My!

I have a crazy confession. I am overwhelmed by fabric stores. When I walk in the store I see rows and rows of fabric and have no vision for what to do with any of it. Once when I was a teenager, my Mom and I chose fabric and even pinned it to a dress pattern and never realized the dream of the end product. It sold quite nicely at a yard sale to someone else who could realize our dream. I don't sew, I don't really craft and I so want to join the club!

This morning was different. I had the fun of going to a local fabric outlet store to choose some fabric for recovering loveseat cushions in our bonus/school room. I went with a friend that loves fabric and can see the vision and realize the dream. I have visited this store before, but not ever to actually be the person buying the fabric.

I had so much fun! There are rows and rows of fabrics of all kinds and colors and for every budget. Foam, buttons,cording,and tassels and every thing else fabric fill the space. This trip it all looked like possibilities. I had a very good guide who definitely knows her way around all things fabric. I saw lots of fabrics. One type of fabric had monkeys and palm trees while another fabric had big purple swirls with orange accents. Being pretty conservative in taste and knowing the cushions are on loveseats that teenage boys sit on frequently,I chose a chocolate brown herring bone pattern. I love it! I can get a pop of color with all kinds of different wacky pillows. I am excited to see how the cushions turn out for the room.

I had such a good time and the folks were so friendly and actually very funny. For sure next time I need to look at fabric, I won't be as nervous about heading to the store. I believe I can see the vision now and will realize my fabric dreams. What fun!

Heavy Heart

Today I am sad. It is not just a passing twinge of sadness, but a heavy hearted weighty sadness. There are so many "hurts" that I am aware of in my own life, in the lives of family and loved ones, friends, and even casual acquaintances. I am looking for the Balm of Gilead to soothe these "hurts".

I know JESUS is the only answer for these "hurts". He is the Balm of Gilead. He is the great comforter and the ultimate in peace giving relief. So as I go throughout my day today, every time I feel a twinge of that deep sadness, I am going to pray for the "hurt" and the person that goes along with it.

I will lift up those twinges in prayer today, remembering Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." I am thankful there is something to do with all of sadness and that JESUS holds the ultimate relief.

Joyful 2012!

My homeschool support group, Lighthouse, is getting ready for our January meeting on the topic of joyful mothering/homeschooling. I sent this out to our group in preparation for our time of sharing and encouragement this month. I am looking forward to hearing some fun ideas to keep JOY as part of our daily homeschooling routine.

When I think of the word JOY, I always think of this time of year, probably because of the Christmas carol "Joy to the World". Take a minute and read through these lyrics of this familiar carol:

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Pretty amazing words, I thought, as we move into the new year. For me JOY is rooted in another word PEACE. "My peace I give to you..." John 14:27 In a devotion in Charles Stanley's IN TOUCH magazine, he explains how Jesus said this to his disciples just hours before his crucifixion. There certainly was no JOY in that situation but his Joy and His peace were not dependent on the circumstances surrounding Him. Jesus gives every believer His peace which leads to JOY. Our faith is how we experience this gift of Peace and ultimately Joy.

Charles Stanley points out some truths to remember to help us in our quest for joyful mothering/joyful homeschooling. These same truths are echoed in the words of the carol "Joy to the World".

1. God is in control of everything.
2. He loves me and will see me through all circumstances.
3. To have Christ's peace(and JOY) I must yield my life to Him.
4. I have a limited perspective and understanding of my circumstances and God's purposed for allowing them.
5. The Lord promises to work all things out for my good.
6. I must live in sync with God.
7. Scripture is my foundation for peace.
In Touch magazine, December 2011

I am looking forward to our meeting Tuesday and the sharing and encouragement with ideas for joyful homeschooling as we start our new year.

Happy 2012! Happy New Year!

Winding Down 2011

I cannot believe the date on the calendar, surely it is incorrect, it is December 29 already. It is time once again to pull out the new calendars,transfer birthdays and important dates from the old to the new, and add doctor appointments from cards I have been collecting in my desk for this occasion.

I love the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. It is a time of reflection it seems like for everyone. We all long to be better, do better and look better in the new year. I am humbly reminded that even though I may set goals and make plans for the new year, unless God is in them, they will not matter in the long run, and probably will fizzle out in the short run.

I am amazed at how God has brought our family through the 2011 year. The year that our youngest received the unexpected diagnosis of type 1 diabetic, along with a scary stay in the PICU, while his Dad was at annual training with the Army National Guard. We are 6 months into this new way of life, and I would like to say everything is sailing along smoothly, and in some ways things are much better, but in other ways not so much. There are still so many unknowns and uncertainties that this diagnosis brings. My husband and I are not scared any more about giving our son his 4-5 shots daily, and he has gotten used to pricking his fingers countless times during the day, although the last couple of days have been rough. His fingers have been hurting, and he doesn't want to check his blood sugar, but he has to, because we don't have any other way of knowing for sure what is going on inside of his body. It is a tough sell for a 9 year old boy. Also, I can tell you the carb count of countless foods, which has raised my own awareness of what I am eating. Siblings have learned to deal with a big intrusion to our family's way of life prior to diagnosis. It is still a process.

Looking back at 2011, I can see it being woven into the tapestry of our family's life, and I know that God will use what can be seen as bad for His good. Strength, endurance and a new found compassion for families with children with chronic illness has stirred within me. I am looking forward to 2012 and a fresh start. As the last couple days of the year wind down, I am earnestly seeking God's plan for our family in 2012, moving forward in a hope that only He can provide. God and me in 2012,it has a nice ring to it.

Gift of a Christmas TEA

Well, another Lighthouse Homeschool Association Mom's Christmas Tea is in the books! What a wonderful time of blessing last night as Moms gathered to focus on "Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas" brought to us from the heart of God by Mariel Davenport of http://www.growingodliness.com/

Here is a summary of her talk- Using the letters in JESUS' name she refocused our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas. J-JOY, the joy we have in Christ, like the joy the angels spilled out from Heaven the first Christmas night. E-EVANGELIZE, the shepherds were the first evangelists, sharing what they experienced with everyone, just as we should share our personal encounters with God with those around us. S-SACRIFICE, Joseph sacrificed his rights in being Jesus' earthly father, Do we sacrifice for others in His name, or do we dwell in the world of self-pity? U-UNDERSTANDING Mary pondered all of the wondrous events of the first Christmas in her heart, as we need to pause and ponder God's gift to us this Christmas and finally S-SAVIOR, Jesus' name, a name above all names, still today His name is one to be in awe of, remembering that He grew from a baby in a manger to a Savior on the cross.

I have always enjoyed this special evening of fellowship and encouragement in my homeschooling group. Tables were decorated creatively with the beautiful colors of Christmas. Everything looked beautiful in the soft candlelight and shimmering gold and silver that filled the room. The food was delicious as always and the conversation was sweet. I got some fun ideas for decorating from all of the incredible displays.

I love getting lost in these type of delightful times of fellowship and love, and imagining that this is what HEAVEN will be like, everyone gathered together in, one accord and in fellowship and love, the rush and busyness of life melted away.

I truly feel that I unwrapped one of the very best gifts of this Christmas season. Thank you JESUS for friends, fellowship and most of all I thank you truly for the gift of your LIFE and for the second Christmas that is yet to come!

Sacred Chaos

Here I am once again with too many months since I have blogged. We have entered the last month of 2011 with whirlwind speed. Last night I took a deep breath in and asked God to help me with all that looms ahead. I have been reading a really good book called Sacred Chaos: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life You Have by Tricia McCary Rhodes. She offers up suggestions of connecting with God despite or in the midst of a chaotic life. I must say, I "stumbled" upon this book, but it has been such a blessing. It reminds me that God is not scared of a little turmoil or upheaval, He just would like to be included in it! I often turn to every other thing to get my check lists marked off, caffeine, delegation, prioritizing, but the first thing I need to be doing is inviting God to dwell with me, right smack dab in the middle of everything.
So, I have learned I can grab moments with God anytime there is a pause in my family's chaos and in doing so, God can turn our chaos into something sacred. Thank you God for reminding me, where you are is the best place to be, and that You, can handle chaos.

Becky