Just chillin'

Look at my handsome fellows!!! Aren't they cute? Elijah's shirt says, " I get my looks from my dad." SO TRUE!!!!

This week is almost over...YEA!!!!

It has been a long week with little sleep. Nathaniel has actually been sleeping much better though...with 2 nights of sleeping 8 hours straight this week. WOOHOO!!



My problem is I haven't slept well with John up in Indiana. He has had a very busy and productive week. He has had at least 5 speaking engagements up there. He flew out Monday afternoon. Two of which were at a youth residential living facility...something like House of Hope here in O-town. He was asked not to give a gospel presentation but felt like his talks impacted the young people positively. Tonight, he reported that 5 students prayed to receive Christ at the event he spoke at despite some odd distractions that took place at the beginning of the event. PRAISE GOD!!! Certainly I can endure the lack of rest to hear news like that.



I had a very full week with MOPS on Tuesday, a play date on Wednesday, and a shopping day with my Mom today. It has helped the week go by quickly but has also been tiring. We pick John up from the airport tomorrow and I have a date planned for us tomorrow night. To the Ale House and Toys' R Us. Can't get anymore romantic than that? Ha, Ha!!! One of John's fav places to eat is the Ale House and fortunately there is one close to a Toys' R Us . E-man turns 5 on Sunday and I have NO idea what to get him for his b-day. I don't even have an idea for his party on Sunday. It is just my family attending. We aren't doing the kid party this year. Normally I least have a theme. Last year it was football. You should have seen my cake it was ssssoooo funny. I tried to cut a football shape out of a round cake. Didn't work quite like it does on Ace of Cakes!!! But you know what, Elijah loved it!! The year before that was the rice crispy dragon head...to go with the Knight theme we took from The Squire and the Scroll. It is the boys book that goes with The Princess and the Kiss. It was fun! We let the boys sleigh balloon "dragons" with swords and they made shields out of foam board. It was fun. AW!! It makes me miss the Phams. Elijah needs some boys to play with these days.

The future UCF Quarter back when he turned 4 ... GO LONG!!!!

Our little Knight at Age 3...isn't he cute?

Part of me wants to get him some sort of guitar. He really wants to learn to play the guitar. I am thinking it is too early to buy the real thing just yet. I am not ready for lessons and all that right now. I suppose I should pick up some ear plugs while I'm out if we go that route. We are going to Toys'R Us since I figure they will have the widest variety of toys available. I am praying there will be some divine inspiration. I mean 5 is kind of a big deal birthday. I feel like such a terrible mom. I am actually thinking we should just buy a cake. We have NEVER bought a birthday cake for the kids. I usually come up with some concoction with cake or cupcakes. We have had ladybugs, flowers with ladybugs, caterpillars, baseballs, basketballs, footballs, and a dragon. Granted they aren't as grand as that sounds but they are fun and the kids have always loved them. Maybe an ice cream cake from DQ this year, what do you think?

Any Christian books or websites that you could recommend...

Since I posted some tips, verses, and books on having a Christian home, I was curious what books or websites you would recommend for a Christian Mom. How have they impacted your life? Comment away.

My little talk at MOPS

I got the privilege to share some things God laid on my heart about how to have a Christian home. So I am posting them here as well. It was really neat how God worked out all the details for the morning. I wasn't supposed to speak I was just supposed to present the hands-on activity but God just told me I should type this stuff out and I took it with me. When I got to Mops and told Shelly who had planned what to do she said that the FAITH aspect of family was the one area she didn't have covered in her talk and now she knew why. It is fun when we listen to God and he puts things together for us.

MY NOTES FROM THE TALK:
A friend had this on her blog recently and I feel it is very applicable here….
For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks...
Matthew 12:34b. (actually it was Heather- PROPS for Heather - she has an awesome blog)

I think in very much the same way as that from our hearts flows the environment of our home…It is so often the mother’s spirit that embodies the home. If we are depending on God or not…it will be reflected in our home. And I am not talking necessarily if our home is clean…our home may be cluttered and yes that could be a reflection of a heart not surrendered to God’s discipline or our house could be kept meticulously clean and that could be a sign that we have not surrendered to allowing God to have any control in our lives. It is more than the surface view of our homes. This year the theme for MOPs has been Dwelling. as we focus on a Christian home…I think as mothers we first have to look at who is dwelling IN us….who is reigning supreme…me, myself and I or God. I think we have to look at that first before we move into how to create a Christian home. Wherever we are in our walk with the Lord, we have to address what is overflowing from our hearts…in words and in actions.

The Bible tells us…

Galatians 5:22-26
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

If we are believers and there should be evidence of that. Others should see some of those fruits growing in our lives. If you are not a Christian and you want those fruits you can turn away from self and ask God in to help you.

So if the Spirit is in me how do I grow those fruits…living by and keeping in step with the spirit. Reading our Bibles. Praying. Connecting with other Christians.
Anyone having trouble spending time reading the Bible?…having Quiet time or doing devotionals. Resource...Books at Christian bookstores…the BIBLE all by itself …www.biblegateway.com…find The Message version of the Bible it can be very helpful

Websites I found for personal Christian growth…
Revive our Hearts – Radio show for women by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StCloudMOPS/www.reviveourhearts.com
Free Devotionals online
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/

With that in mind I wanted to focus on an activity to begin discussing the fruits of the spirit with our children.
from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StCloudMOPS/www.dltk-bible.com
The bible lesson I read today could be found at
http://www.dltk-bible.com/cv/fruits_of_the_spirit.htm

Other Ideas…
Create a graph and each person in the family earns stars when they are "shining like stars" working in whatever area you have chosen. Our family did encouraging words one week and we had about 100 boxes to fill. When the graph was full we went to Dairy Queen. I have to admit I think my row was the last one to get filled up. use the following verse

Philippians 2:12-15 ( I quoted the wrong book for this when someone asked today…oops)
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

2Timothy 3:14- 17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Even discipline with the scriptures
Example how to deal with whining or negative words
Do everything without murmuring and disputing. Phil 2:14
We often use the reminder "Sweet words like honey" from Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.….GOD’s authority is much more important than mine!!!

Web sites that I have found helpful…

The Fruit of the Spirit story I read in MOPS can be found at
http://www.dltk-bible.com/cv/fruits_of_the_spirit.htm

Fruit of the Spirit handouts from MOPS were found at
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/days/fruitsp.htm

Bible Alphabet Pages
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/bible/coloring-pages/alphabet-zn.htm

Learning God’s Word- Bible Study Resources for kids
http://www.akidsheart.com/bible/bible.htm

Bible Gateway – search through different versions of the Bible
http://www.biblegateway.com/

Resources with a Biblical Focus
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/christian_resources.html

http://www.dltk-kids.com/
Click on Bible Crafts

BOOKS I HAVE USED… When you use books to guide you MAKE SURE THEY ARE BIBLE BASED BOOKS…His truth not just our ideas!!!!

For Instruction in Righteousness – A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child Training - by Pam Forster. I found it at the Doorposts Website– Bible Based parenting tools. This is where I purchased it http://www.doorposts.net/

The 21 Rules of This House by Joshua Harris – I don’t remember where I bought this… sorry…maybe Amazon. I have the Original version from 1993. I don’t know anything about the one for preschoolers.

The simple pleasures fo Hometown, USA

Those of you that live in a small town understand the many joys of living in one. Our family enjoys living in a small town where we can walk to downtown or to the recently enhanced lakefront. These areas can be the hub of life...hosting many different activities. Downtown boasts of a Christmas Parade and art festival that make downtown burst with life. It also hosts some Friday activities of which we can generally hear the music playing until 10 or 11 o' clock. The lakefront has the privilege of hosting events like Fourth of July fire works and the Spring fling that includes power boat races.

This past weekend was Spring Fling. A small carnival and business and crafter's booths, and antique cars lined the lake front. Even though we can hear the hum of practicing powerboats earlier in the week the parade kicks off the festivities for the weekend. It is a unique little parade. Most of the floats ( i use that term loosely) are trucks pulling big powerboats. However basically anybody in town can be in the parade.

Our MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers) has walked in it for the past 3 years to introduce the community to the beneficial group. This was the first year that my children and I participated in it with them. We have been involved in Christmas parades in the past which are generally a big deal in our little town so we prepared for the Spring Fling thinking we knew what to expect.

Our kids began the countdown approximately 2 weeks ago. Waking up frequently asking how many days were left until the parade. We bought bubbles to blow while we walked and candy to throw. John actually purchased enough candy to feed a small country. I mean if we were going to walk in a parade no one was going to be sitting at the end of the parade route and not get candy from us. On Saturday morning, we slathered on sunscreen. John loaded our double stroller and wagon into the Suburban. We packed water bottles, bubbles, candy, hats, sunglasses, baby blanket, sling, diapers... you know everything that a family of 6 my need while walking in a parade.

We got in the car an hour and a half before the parade began to head to the waiting area before the parade began and our oldest daughter age 6 said...

"This is a dream come true!"

John and I giggled. How sweet it was to be six. John felt a bit odd as we gathered with the other Mothers and their preschoolers seeing that he was the only dad at first. Only one other joined us a little later. But John said how in the world could he miss this....I mean his kids were so excited.

At 10:00 a.m. we began the walk. The preschoolers in our group pelted elderly people in the head with candy. And It took a block or two to teach them that you shouldn't just throw it in the middle of the road. We got our kids to realize they could actually go hand the candy to people. Elijah even ran up to the front door steps of houses to throw, I mean, hand candy to people who sat on their front porches. Then after just a few blocks our kids had it all figured out and it was OVER. Seriously, this was the shortest parade on the planet. It was too funny. With about half our candy left over and without even breaking a sweat...it was over. But the memories can't be measured in the length of the parade or how much candy was thrown. We definitely made some memories this weekend. And the kids are already starting to talk about when we walk in next years parade. :)

My NEW MOST FAVORITE SITE EVER!!!

OK...if you are a homeschooler you may have already run across this amazing site by Donna Young. If you are not a homeschooler and are Organizationally challenged or Organizationally gifted, you may want to check it out anyway...she has amazing calendars and chore charts that she has created and you can use and adapt for yourself.

Right now I am using the animated handwriting page for Layton. Her handwriting has not been good and she and I don't work on it well together. So I started having her look at how a letter is written and then she writes it just like she sees it. We are going to practice four letters a week and if she does really well each week on the fifth day she will get to learn a letter of her name in cursive.

So here's the site ladies...homeschooler or not there is something for you on it!!!

Click on the button below!!! (or got to http://donnayoung.org/)

Officially Feeling Old!

OK...I turned 36 this past Friday. I've never had any issues with my age before considering that it is just a number. But this year it's different. It probably has to do with how I am feeling after baby#4. You know some of the normal baby blues. He is 3 and 1/2 months now and I am just starting to get back on track with sleep and everything. Forget about the baby weight. So as I was sharing with my lil' sister about my state of feeling down she said, "Just think about all the things you have done." So here goes...

• 19 years of school...includes K-12, BA in Elementary Ed. and Masters in Ed. Tech.
• 6 years of youth choir (it was big in Texas)
• 3 years playing handbells
• 11 years playing the piano...unfortunately I have to stop counting after college...not much playing since then.
• 2 years of tap and ballet
• 5 years twirling the baton
• 2 years on a girls softball team
• 13 years of teaching...4 teaching 2nd grade, 4 teaching computer in elementary, 4 teaching computer at a university, 1 year of homeschooling
• 11 years married- several while he tried to figure out what he wanted to be when he grew up and then a few putting him through college and then 6 being a minister's wife
• 3 1/2 years pregnant - 6 pregnancies...4 amazing children
• 2 1/2 years of nursing...so far
• 6 1/2 years of being a mom
• 27 years of being a christian

So can I say I have crammed 100.5 years into my 36. :) Really it isn't about anything in the past. Most importantly, it is about the present; that today this moment I want it to be for His Glory, not mine. I am married to an amazing man of God and I have one child who is also my sister in Christ and a little boy who is very close to becoming my brother in Christ. I have 4 children that despite my craziness God can draw to Him. So whether I'm 36 or not...this is a pretty good place to be. So that one candle on my strawberry shortcake stands for ONE GREAT LIFE!!!