Embracing the Seasons

I'm not a fan of summer.  The best thing about summer is when it's over.  Despite my great dislike of summer, I choose to embrace certain aspects of the season.  I enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool, and  the excessive rest and relaxation that comes from being able to sleep in most summer mornings and even the warm, I'm mean HOT, sun shining on me after being in the COLD a/c.  And Snow Cones!  Yes, snow cones are great in summer! 

Okay, so maybe I don't loathe summer as much as I thought.  But you know what?  It's a choice.  I made the choice to alter my attitude and embrace the best of summer.  If I didn't I would waste the entire season feeling miserable.

And so it is with motherhood.  Certainly those sleepless nights, days of spills, messes and meltdowns (don't forget the meltdowns!) are less than likable.  But still, during those early years there are cuddles, hugs and kisses, bedtime stories and other lovables and likables to embrace.  I even learned to cherish middle of the night feedings.  Praying and singing softly in my littles ones ears are fond memories.  So, yes, you can even embrace the more difficult aspects of the seasons of motherhood.     

If I had one piece of advice to pass on to young mothers (besides PRAY!) it would be to embrace each season of motherhood with all that you have.  Particularly those early years.  Do your best to "redeem" those less than likable times, turn them into irreplaceable memories.  Unlike our yearly seasons that come and go and come back again for a lifetime, most of us only get one shot at these seasons of motherhood.  Don't waste it feeling miserable.  Choose to embrace it - choose joy!

How about you, what advice do you pass on to young mothers?  Or perhaps you are in another season of motherhood.  What challenges are you doing your best to embrace?

Getting It All Together

Behind me sits most all our books for the upcoming school year.  Gathered together it seems like a lot! 

I just checked HSLDA's website and pulled up Texas' requirements.  We are very blessed here, with little to no restrictions.  The HSLDA analysis says, "Homeschools can legally operate as private schools in Texas" and "Homeschools must be conducted in a bona fide manner, using a written curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math and a course in good citizenship; no other requirements apply." 

I think we have our bases covered.  Here's what we have:

Braden 13years
Bible/History/Geography/Literature - Notgrass America the Beautiful
Math - BJUP Fundamentals of Math
Grammar - Step by Step Grammar Vol. 1
Science - Apologia General Science
Vocab/Spelling - Critical Thinking Word Roots

Brock 10years
Bible - BJUP Bible Truths 5
History - BJUP Heritage Studies 5
Math - BJUP Math 4
Grammar/Writing/Reading - BJUP English 4
Handwriting - BJUP Handwriting 5
Spelling - Sequential Spelling
Science - Abeka Investigating God's World

For our planning this year I bought them each 'The Homechool Student Planner'.  Of course I'll be right alongside them and giving them the materials I choose for them; but I want to slowly work towards them keeping track and setting their own goals. We'll see how that goes! 

How's your school year coming together?

Majority Rule?

This past week during the B90Days reading we read the account of the twelve spies the Lord had Moses send to check out the land of Canaan.  I like this story...it reminds me that the majority is not always right, at least not when God is on your side.

I've had a couple of occasions to be encouraged by the testimony of Caleb & Joshua to trust in God's word.  Not that I'm a super christian by any means, but encouraged to stick to my guns none-the-less when I'm in the minority in certain situations.   

The Lord promised the Israelites that land, and Caleb and Joshua trusted him for it.  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. Num. 14:9  They knew what God had said regarding posession of the land and they believed he would do what he said.  Plain and simple. 

Too bad the majority didn't agree.

B90Days Day 8

I'm right on schedule with my reading, at least as long as I complete today's portion before midnight. Sundays and Mondays are hardest for me.  They are  busy days for me with work at church.  But that's no excuse -I will perservere!

Well, I have to say that I love the Old Testament.  I've always enjoyed history, so I guess that's no surprise.  Genesis is probably my favorite book. 

It's always been said that no matter how many times you read scripture your bound to find something new.  Or maybe something you knew will hit you in a new way.  Something that keeps coming to mind the last week is the following scripture where God is speaking to Abram:

Genesis 15: 13-14 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Now I've read it before, but didn't give it much thought.  God just out and out tells Abram that his decendants will be in bondage in strange land!  I wonder if that is information that Abraham passed on?  Did his sons and grandsons, etc. know what their extended family was headed for?  hmm

For Christians, one thing I'm sure of is that even when the bad happens in our lives it is for our good.  God has a plan.  We may not see or understand all the ins and outs of what is going on, but for certain in the end we will be better for our experiences.  It doesn't mean we have to like it, but we do need to trust in him throughout it all.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28


A lot of people refer to God as the Potter and refer to us as the clay Jeremiah 18:1-6 -  Now I bet if clay had feeling it wouldn't always feel too good - oh at times I'm sure it would feel like a nice and realxing massage - but at other times to get spun around and manipulated and then thrown into the oven, not so much.  But I bet we would all agree the end result is spectacular!

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  James 1:2-3

Praise God for the good, and trust Him for good to come out of the bad.

My Owly Craftiness

I've developed quite a thing for birds here lately.  So when I saw this pattern from Sublime Stitching and then the tote a few weeks later, I knew I had to give it a stitch.

This was my first go 'round with the "Owlbert" pattern.  He's a little lost on the huge kitchen towel, but not bad for practice.  Can you see that I figured out how to do french knots!  I added a few for a bit of a starry effect and went a little knot crazy!

And here's the tote.  I used a variegated thread on the body, but I don't think you get the full effect unless you are filling in your work.  I'm not ready for that yet.  It was all I could do to get through satin stitching the moon - my first attempt at the satin stitch. 

B90Days Day 1

I'm happy to have started back on the Bible in 90 Days challenge today.  It was such a great experience last time and a neat feeling to have completed the challenge last summer.  I kept a few things in mind that help me get through the challenge that I'm hoping will help me again this time around. 

The first thing I did was set aside all other reading. Last week I checked out a book I've been wanting to read for a long time.  Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  I got through the (very long) prologue last week and that was about it.  I just knew with B90Days starting in just a few days I wouldn't make it trying to read both.  I'll have to take it back to the library and check it out another time. 

Next, read before doing extra activities.  I love to craft, but no crafting until my reading for the day is done!

Also, read a little ahead when possible. Today, I finished my reading by about 4:30pm.  Tonight I will most likely read at least 2-3 chapters of tomorrows reading.  I don't always know exactly what the next day will hold for me.  So at any opportunity I'll sneak in a few extra chapters, or even just a few verses to get a little ahead.  If tomorrow turns out to be pretty busy, I'll have a little less to do in order to complete the days assignment.  And if for some reason I don't finish that days reading I won't be as far behind as I might have been.

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Righteous - that word stood out as I read today.  God told Noah in Genesis 7:1 for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.  God saw something in Noah that others didn't have.

I think about my righteousness, or lack thereof, and am grateful for God's salvation through Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that my righteousness "is as filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6 and that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.  Praise Him for Jesus who is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" John 1:29.  Try as I might I can never be good or do enough good to be reconciled to the Lord God.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  Romans 5:18

I'm so thankful that when God looks at me for righteousness - it's not me he sees, but Jesus.



  

Catching Up

Well, apparently I need to re-title my blog - RandomShares at RandomTimes or the Consistently Inconsistent Blogger!  haha!

I'm having a wonderful, mainly event free summer break.  We are taking several weeks off from lessons, and it is feeling good not to have to hit the books everyday!  I have all we need for the next school year which is a big weight off my shoulders.  I really feel like I'm getting a break!  At least from book work anyway, "lessons" are always taking place.

I've been pretty crafty lately, summertime is usually when the craft bug bites.  I've done some more embroidery and will be doing some easy sewing for a few babies that will be born pretty soon. 

I'll be participating in the Read the Bible in 90 Days challenge again.  I really thought it would be a while before I tackled that again, but I saw a few posts here and there about it and felt a strong desire to go for it again.  It starts Monday.  :-)