Excitment

Just when I think everyone has forgotten about me and I'm all alone God suprises me with two little stubs in the mail. Stubs that changed my outlook on how I've been feeling and how God feels about me.

A few months ago I entered a contest at Women of Faith and had to give them my blog address and write a short essay on why I would like to have free tickets to one of their events. I figured I didn't win because I didn't hear anything but today I opened my mailbox to find 2 tickets to their event in Oct. in St.Paul. Angie Smith will be there speaking and I love her.. I'm glad I'll finally get to see her in person.

I now have to figure out who I want to bless/have with me at the event. There are so many people that mean so much to me and I would love to hang out with so I'm just going to pray about it and see who God puts on my heart.

Homeschool is going ok. It's very hard to get everything done though. Kenan and Ella make it a little interesting. I'm also starting to train with my dad for this pre-need ins. and to top it all off I am a cubbies leader this year at our awana program. I kind of feel like everything has happened at once and I am quickly sinking under all the demands.

At least I have an encouraging weekend coming up!

Calling

As tomorrow approaches and with it the first day of school my stomach is a little tied up in knots as I wonder how this year will go. Training your child is no easy task and not something I take lightly. I feel a strong conviction that this is what I am to do and I don't want to fail. I want to make learning come alive for them and be very different than how it was for me. I want to impress a strong biblical worldview on their little lives and yet let them see the world for what it is so they know how to live in it. There are so many things to teach and so little time and so many distractions. I know with God's help I can do it. I know their lives will be stronger for it and their knowledge base will be wide. It's just tough to get started again. It's hard for me not to feel inadequate. I'm glad God is for me.

I have a great resource I am reading right now called "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Glady's Hunt. It is a book that talks about how important good books are in your child's life and then she goes on to break it up into age groups and list a whole bunch of books you should be reading or have your child reading. I love to read and hope to foster that into my children as well. Their daddy does not so hopefully we can get him into it also.

Anyway... That is how I am feeling on this day before it begins. So much to do today. I have homemade yogurt to make, laundry soap to make, bread to make, celery and tomatoes to process from the garden and Awana starts tonight. The girls are so thrilled. Speaking of the girls they just got out of bed so we are off to get lost in a chapter of Little House.

The Blessing

I've just finished reading the book The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley. This book is about the unconditional love and acceptance that every child needs from their parents. When five elements are met they have received the blessing. These elements are: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment. This book helps you put all the above mentioned elements into practice by offering biblical counsel and wise advice. What if an adult has gone through life never having received the blessing? They show you how to reverse that and train you how not to let your kids go without having received the blessing from you.
The Blessing has challenged me to intentionally speak words of blessing and life into my children's lives. Thinking deliberately on how to bless them and leave a legacy that lasts. There was a particular story that was shared about how one child was a procrastinator and never could do anything right and the mom saw beyond that and encouraged him to do great things with his life and he did. It was highly encouraging for what we can do with our words. This book is a must read to understand how to raise healthy children that grow into healthy adults. I'm very thankful to tommy nelson publishing for allowing me to read books and write reviews on them.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Why I've been absent

Taking care of this garden is quite time-consuming but we love it! Look at all we've canned so far. Still to come: Loads of tomato sauce, salso, we have also frozen lots of green beans and peppers cut in strips and onions. Yum!

We went to como zoo and rode the carousel

Abby now rides training wheel free and so does Emily actually!

Our little man's first hair cut at 1 1/2.
our bathroom downstairs. We are still waiting on the shower to be finished but it is looking beautiful!

I've been working hard to get a perfect little area set-up downstairs for our home-school. After doing it at the kitchen table last year and having to get things set up and torn down I really wanted our own space this year. We have a barbie house with barbies for when Emily is done with pre-school and I also have barns and a bin of hard animals for a certain little man who is sure to make this year hard for me. We will be spending lots and lots of hours here each day.

The new patio-- we didn't do this... my parents did. Isn't it awesome! our ever growing wood-pile

I think we already have 80 hours put into gathering wood with lots more to go. It is so time-consuming.

I am now a liscensed life producer and plan to sell pre-need ins. for my dad's funeral home.

The 3 main reasons why life is soooo busy!

The sweet little baby who I also watch full-time. Did I mention how hectic life has been?!

In other news:

Joel has started school. He is finishing his A.A.S degree at the moment with an emphasis in civil engineering. He is open to other options as he really doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up but this gives him some direction.

Awana starts next week as does homeschool and the kids are pumped.

Joel took us to higher ground music fest in the cities a few weekends ago. We really enjoyed Jeremy Camp, Mathew West and Go Fish. It was lots of fun.

I'll try to update sooner next time!