Patience of Job

Forget the "patience of Job"! It should be the "patience of Mrs. Duggar".

Check out this clip...

http://health.discovery.com/beyond/?playerId=219475126&categoryId=219535198&lineupId=769921206&titleId=1618633062

Letting Loose

According to the KONOS lady at the homeschool convention, I'm one of "those mom's". What she meant was, I'm boring and uncreative. Well, it's kind of true - although, I bet if she knew I was a snake handler, she'd change her tune.

But I digress!

What was my point? Oh, yes! Tonight the kids were playing in the front yard with this sprinkler ball that my mom gave them. You hook up a hose and water sprays in all directions out of the ball. The kids were jumping over and running under the long streams of water shooting out of it. I was sitting there watching them and thinking, "I should just run over there and jump in with them." I often think these kinds of things but usually don't act on them.

Tonight I did. Fully clothed, I ran into the line-up of children running in a circle around this ball. If they didn't have such young, strong hearts, they may have had heart attacks.

But it was so fun! And I knew I scored major brownie points.

Amazing Grace

When did salvation become so complicated? The girls and I were talking this weekend about how to know when your child is ready to "get saved." Hubby and I went through this when the boys were wanting to get baptized. Our questioning came when we weren't sure if they would be able to answer the church leader's questions correctly. So it got me thinking.

Let's say you live in a place that has no churches and you've never even heard of God or Jesus. One day someone drops a Bible in your lap. If you simply read it (never having heard things like "the sinner's prayer" or “ask Jesus into your heart” or “pray to receive Christ”) what would you do to have eternal life?

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:14-18 (emphasis mine)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Let’s go to a conventional church setting…A person walks the aisle and talks with a pastor. The pastor leads this person in the “sinner’s prayer”. Does the prayer save that person? Or was the person saved before he/she even took the first step toward the altar? That person believes the message of the gospel in his/her heart. The step and the prayer are works. Works don’t save us. Works are a product of our salvation. Works are a result of a love for God and a desire to please Him.

Galatians 2:16
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 10:9-13
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

We’ve made salvation complicated to fit our standards of protocol. So that we can look back and say, “Oh yes, on this day and at this place, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me.”

Eternal life (salvation) is based on faith in Jesus Christ who was sinless yet humbly gave His life to be mercilessly taken to pay the penalty for our sins.

So where does that leave us when it comes to our children? Romans 10:14-15 says, But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

We need to tell them of the gracious, unrelenting love of the Savior and their need for Him.

Luke 18:17
[Jesus said,] “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Weekend Away

Tiffanie invited some of us homeschooling moms to a weekend away at the beach. She thought it would be a great time of planning and getting focused and ready for the new school year. She was right! It was awesome.

Tiffanie, Edie, Heather and I spent Friday night through Sunday afternoon hanging out, getting to know each other better, planning, playing Sequence (I have to brag that Heather and I kicked butt! - Sorry if any of your children read that), hanging out at the beach and staying up way too late. What a diverse group of backgrounds and personalities were represented. I love every one of them and loved every minute of our time together.

Thanks, Tiff, for hosting this weekend! Hubby said, "Now you have to plan a mid-year weekend." I said, "Actually, Tiffanie's already working on it." So I'm in!!

How It Went...

So last week (Mon-Fri) we had no TV, Computer, Toys or Library Books. What did we do, you ask? Well I told the kids fasting would give us more time to read our Bibles and Bible stories. To which Handsome replied, "Morning, noon and night." I told him that was a great idea. So we had our normal morning Bible time then at noon before naps, we had another one and again at night before bedtime. Most of the noon Bible time consisted of reading Little Pilgrim's Progress. If you haven't read it, it's a must! We couldn't put it down and read throughout the day so that we were 3/4 of the way through by Friday.

We played cards and boardgames together. I had paper and colored pencils sitting out and they drew and traced. We had play-dates Wed and Thurs. We played in the backyard a few nights after supper. They reenacted parts of Narnia and set up a store in the guest room with stuff around the house.

Monday was the hardest day for me. I was a little cranky by the evening. The kids did great. Sweet Pea said she thought it was going to be boring but it wasn't at all. By Wed I was disappointed that we only had 2 more days.

I was better able to focus on little, yet nagging, areas of training that needed attention because we were all together so much. We are home all the time but if I'm on the computer or doing my own things here or there in the house, I miss a lot. Last week, I spent time on the basics that needed to be done around the house and spent more time playing. I've got to figure out how to schedule more of that in when school starts.

Our verses ended up being Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I mentioned to Hubby that if it worked out on the calendar, I'd love to do this every 7th week - kind of a week of rest. We'll see.

Fasting

We talked with the kids tonight about fasting. We told them ordinarily when you fast, you give up food. And the purpose is to help you focus on God. We're not giving up food but we are all fasting this week from TV, computer and toys.

We're going to focus on God by spending more time in His Word, by working on our mouths (if you know what I mean), by being responsible to pick up after ourselves, and by being thankful for all that we have.

It will be interesting. I'm excited about what God is going to show us.

Dinner For Two

One afternoon, Little R asked me not to come in the office. A little while later he asked if we could eat dinner upstairs. I wanted to say no because I could just see all the food scattered from the kitchen to the playroom table. But I said I'd think about it. Later I told him to ask Daddy. He said it was okay. After an hour and a half of secrecy and lots of trips from the kitchen, Daddy was home. Sweet Pea showed up all dressed and told us they were ready when we were. So I put on a dress and heals and she escorted us to the boys' room where the door was closed.

When she opened it, this is what we saw:

The room was decorated with streamers, and a sign that said, "You are The Best."

They had the table set for two with salad, name cards and menus. They served us leftover pasta, chips and pretzels and soda. Dessert was the best, though. All on their own, they made Starbucks Java Chip ice cream milkshakes!

They had their dinner in the office and checked on us from time to time to see how we were doing.

We gave them a nice big tip and told them it was the best restaurant we had ever eaten at.

Update on My Parents

They changed their checking account numbers and added alerts to them, but somehow the jerks (as I affectionately call them) tried to take out another $1,600. The teller asked for ID and they sent in Mom's credit card and DL. When the teller told them they would need to come inside, they sped off!

Waiting to hear more from the bank as far as surveillance goes.

Kid in a Candy Shop

I feel like a kid in a candy shop. Most of y'all know we have a butterfly garden. The other day I discovered that we have a new kind of caterpillar! Our old timers are Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs and Zebras. We now have Queens - which are cousins to the Monarchs. I'm so excited.

We have 14 Monarch caterpillars, 5 Queens, 6 Gulfs and 55 (and counting) eggs!

They're in the aquarium in the house because we have wasps that like to eat them. Several months ago I counted around 150 caterpillars and eggs and within a week, they were gone. I finally realized what was going on but it was too late.

So every day, several times a day, we go out to the garden and pick leaves to feed them. In the process I watch the Mommy Monarch fly around laying more eggs!

When they start making chrysalises I'll have a little science class for everyone to show all the stages.

(Pictures to follow)

Rated BG

That's "Biblical Guidance Suggested"!

So much of what we hear and read is infused with worldly values. "Experts" are considered experts because they've spent 20 years going to school and working in their "fields" instead of spending time at home actually putting into practice what they preach. In reality, there is only One expert! Even Super Nanny with all her practice, leaves. She doesn't actually raise these children. And she doesn't base her suggestions on the Word! Which is ultimately the point.

I don't claim to know it all, either. And I know I don't know it all because I used to think I knew it all and I was wrong. I do know one thing that is undisputable, though. God's Word is true. It is our only reliable source of truth in a world that says truth is whatever you want it to be.

Whatever we read or hear (in Christian or worldly magazines and books, from blogs, on tv, etc), before we jump in and apply it to any area of our lives, we need to hold it up to the only standard that matters.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Psalm 18:30

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Sometimes we doubt that following His Word will work because we doubt it's relevancy to us today. But He doesn't change. We can rest in the comfort of knowing that if we "take refuge in Him" and in His perfect ways, He will be the shield that protects us. He will honor our efforts.

So say no to what the world teaches.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Read His Word. Pray for wisdom and discernment to filter out all the junk out there.

Identity Theft

"We always think it will happen to someone else." Whatever it is, we think we're safe from it. Last Saturday my mom was in Publix and a couple of guys distracted her with friendly conversation while they slipped her wallet out of her purse. It had 2 credit cards, driver's license, insurance, medicare and social security cards.

After shopping at 4 of the touristy outlets with both cards (8 transactions), one of the cashiers got suspicious. She asked for ID and he said he had left it in the room at the resort. So she verified his signature and it matched exactly. But after he left she called the credit card company who then called my mom. She had no idea her wallet was missing. She uses cash and didn't notice it was gone.

So we spent a couple of hours calling here, there and everywhere to close her accounts, etc. Monday, Mom and Dad went to SunTrust to find out what they should do with their checking account. The lady told them there was no point in closing it since they had her social anyway. So she put an alert on the account.

Dad called the automated line this morning to see if his SS check had been deposited and discovered that $1,800 had been withdrawn two days ago. So they probably went to the bank drive-thru and sent in her DL and took their money!

Can I tell you how sickening and infuriating it is?! More so than if it happened to us. These are my parents who work their butts off. And a couple of jerks come in and take their money, security and peace of mind.

Be careful with what is in your wallet/purse and how you guard it!

I know God is in control of all this. Allowed it for a reason. I do know that. I know the money is really His and not theirs. I know He supplies for their needs and takes care of them. I know He will take care of the jerks! I also know I'd like to take care of them!

I know there are far worse things that could happen, too.

Please say a quick prayer for them. Thank you.

UPDATE since this morning: Apparently, a teller in St. Cloud overrode the alert on the account. The jerks (aka suspects, thieves, scoundrels, low-lifes) sent in a withdrawal slip with Mom's license and just her social on the slip. The teller filled in the account number for them and sent out $1,800. Fortunately, the money will be put back in their account in a few days. My parents now have an alert and a password on their new account. So even if they took one of their checks to the branch with their ID, the teller is supposed to ask for a password before passing out cash!

2 Questions

The two questions I am asked the most are:

Are they all yours? and How do you do it?

My answers are: Yes. and I have an awesome husband.

Proof of that was this morning when I opened the dishwasher and fully expected to put away some dishes. But as I reached for it, I thought, "I bet Hubby already emptied it." Because he always does. And he did!

Yesterday, he jump started my laundry for the week by sorting all last week's laundry and washing about 6 loads. Then another 2 this morning.

He doesn't understand how guys sit around while their wives do everything. It bothers him that people are so surprised that he takes all of them to the grocery store but that it is expected for me to do it.

These are just a few examples. If you want to know more, go to my older post titled, "The Best Husband Ever..."

I'm thinking of cloning him if the price is right. Send in your bids and we'll talk.

Harvest of Righteousness

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Psalm 6:6-11

Normally when we think of these verses, we think of someone who is lazy in their work habits. But you know how sometimes verses just hit you in other ways? I realized this verse also applies to my parenting. If I am lazy or slack in my parenting, what will be the result? What will "poverty" in the lives of my children look like? Discord between siblings, selfishness, lack of concern for pleasing God?

But if I am careful to love, discipline, disciple, train and instruct my children, what is the result? Love for God and others. Hebrews says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." And James says, "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

What kind of harvest do I want to yield? If a harvest of righteousness, am I willing to put my selfish desires aside to put time and energy into the things that will produce that in my life and my children’s lives?

Good One

My sister sent an email to me with lots of good one-liners like:

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

The good Lord didn't create anything without purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

But my favorite was this one:

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

4th of July Photo Session

We thought while Hubby's sister and family were over on the 4th, we'd get some family pictures in. We had a great day eating, playing cards and setting off fireworks.

Young Wisdom

Last night Little R said, "I think I know why parents get frustrated."

I said, "Oh yeah. Why?"

He said, "Because they forget what it was like in the small days."

Surf's Up!

Spent Sunday afternoon at the beach with Hubby's family. Always lots of fun!