Everyday

Jenna loves the computer.

Enjoying Janie Elise as she grows so fast.

Working hard on math.

What a wonderful spot for a school lesson.

What a precious picture.

The everyday brings great blessings if you can just look beyond the monotony of task done over and over.

We are so blessed to be together.

The picture just above is of Janie Elise and my Dad. Technically he is my step-father, but there has been nothing "step" about him. From the moment I remember meeting him I remember a kindness and sweetness that was needed so greatly in my life at that time. I was 10, my brother was just 2. God brought him into our lives after we lost our dad. He sent him, I will always see God's hand in that situation.

To have him love my children as much as any "blood related" grandfather is such a wonderful blessing. They don't even comprehend that he is anything but Poppa. I would venture to say that he loves them more that some "real" grandfathers do their own. He has been there. Generous. Supportive. Steady. A Blessing!

A Plug for my Husband

OK, so this is not exactly what a wheat grinding, label reading, whole food home school Mom would be serving her family on a regular basis but, this pays the bills and affords me to be a stay at home Mom. (They have changed a lot of the ingredients to be more healthy) In the midst of all of the peanut butter scare I thought I would post this video from Lance.

A Holy Experience

When you have time you must visit this blog. It is simply beautiful, the writer is very gifted. So inspiring!

Click here: A Holy Experience

Baby Fun

Cowboy has been having fun with Janie.

I think she loves every minute of it!

When you Rise Up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

A scary fact: over 70% of Christian young adults who enter college will leave the faith by the time they graduate.

We (Dad and I) have pondered this for some time and prayerfully considered what can we do.

One of the conclusions we came to was this. The Bible has to be central in our home. Bible on Sunday and Wednesday is just not enough. Being a preacher's kid is not going to be enough for our children. They need a strong foundation laid by their parents, built on God's word alone. I am not talking Bible curriculum for homeschooling, I mean family devotions... led by Dad... daily.

Now you might be thinking, "She just thought of this?". Well, truthfully, I have read of families who do this but we have never had a consistent time of Bible reading as a family. My husband, who was taken to church his whole life did not do this growing up and I did not grow up this way either.

I wanted for this time to be led by Dad, the spiritual head of our home. I wanted the kids to participate and be interested.

Giving all glory to God, we have been able to implement this and the kids do enjoy it. (Anything with Dad is just right up their alley) They ask questions and talk about whatever it is that Dad reads.

Back to the statistic that I started with. I know many who this has happened to. It seems that all hope is gone for our children. The world's influence is every where. The pull is exceedingly strong. What is needed is a stronger foundation, not a Sunday School story foundation. We can't be Sunday morning Christians, it has to be all day, every day. We must measure all that we do in our homes and lives by the Bible. I could name many ways that Christians lose their witness to their children, but I am not going to throw stones for I know that I am the least in God's kingdom. What others struggle with may not ever bother me, but I do have my battles. I have not arrived, as they say! Again, the Bible must be our measuring stick, not another family. The Holy Spirit will speak and lead if we will listen and obey.

" Dying to self "

"Crucifying the flesh."

" I must decrease so that He may increase."

All of these I have heard all of my adult life. Sometimes hearing something so much desensitizes you to it. Please don't let that happen with these things. They are so, so true.

For Christians there can be no exceptions.

Well, I hope this ramble has made sense. It was so strong on my heart.

Happy Day!

ITS SNOWING!

Here in the South we just don't get to see it that much, unless you were here during the blizzard of '93.When it does snow I always think of my Granny. When I was a child she always made Snow Cream. Can you imagine eating that now? I don't know if I could. Boy, was it good.

Jenna is jumping up and down yelling "Its snow!"

The Beauty of God's Creation

It has been a long, long time since I have photographed our horses. I did that in b.c., as my Jessie calls it, before children.

As I was working in the kitchen I glanced out the window and for a quick moment I admired God's handiwork. I just wanted to share what I saw with you.

In this moment I thanked God for my blessings, my husband, my children, my home and most of all for intimately knowing the God that created all things beautiful and the fact that He loves even me.

Thanks Mom!

Just a little post for my Mom.

As you can tell in the picture she is hands on.(she is holding Jenna, who is 3 1/2 and Janie) She gives her all for our family.

Today was one of the coldest days of the year. I need to go to the grocery store, bad! The fridge is empty. It is customary for my Mom to come and stay when we have a new baby. (For the record, my husband loves this!) When Janie was born she spent one afternoon putting up some fresh peas that my dad had picked. She also brought over a well seasoned iron skillet. Well, today we enjoyed those peas and wonderful cornbread. I was truly counting my blessings as those peas in my freezer served as a reminder of all the ways my Mom blesses our family. She gives willingly and freely of her time and energy to make our lives better and easier in whatever way she can. I pray I can do the same for my children and I really hope my grand-kids love me as much as our children love their Mimi.

Baby Janie

Working those muscles.

Resting, growing is hard work, you know.

Lets do it again!

What a smile!

Don't Be A Demas

Country Church

This mornings church service was, as my Josh put it, "is one we won't soon forget."
The spirit was real and present. There was shouting and singing praises to our wonderful Saviour. Greg could hardly speak when he took the pulpit, but what he did say spoke volumes. "Don't be a Demas" In Second Titus 4:10 Paul writes: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world..." Having loved this present world. How many of us have been led away from living life fully for God because we took our eyes off of the cross and are loving this present world?

Thankfully, our congregation was able to lay aside this present world this morning and the greatest blessing of all was a young woman was saved and is going to be baptized and another joined the church by letter.

It was so good to feel the love of God flowing, hearing brothers and sisters in Christ testify of God's goodness and knowing that when we all departed we were strengthened and looking forward to tonight's service.

As one of my sisters in Christ said, " God is good!"

THE REASON

Mom's Little Laundry Helper

Well, she may not be able to fold and sort, but if you have to do laundry it helps to have this precious little one to look at and talk to!

Heart Overflowing

Before the baby came there, this lady used to spend a good deal of time at her piano, singing and playing. She used to draw and paint and read and write, but now she almost forgot she had any piano. The baby's cooing was all the music she cared for. And she left the drawing and painting and thought the sweetest picture in the world was that tiny, sleeping creature.......
~Little Threads, by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss 1863

Why has my Mom dressed me like an elf????

Too Funny

Has Jenna been paying attention to Mom or what ?
(Jenna rubbed her nose raw with this cold, I have since taken her rag away and her mouth has healed)