This last couple of weeks we have hit up our local(tiny!) library and August found a set of books that he loves. They are a bit longer than picture books, but not chapter books either. Each book is about a different person from History and talks about their life and some kind of character trait.
Today we read about Beethoven and giving. Many people invested in his life and music and when he felt like giving up, he persevered and gave back, with his beautiful music.
Afterward I got on youtube and found a couple songs and I said to lay down, close your eyes and dream about what the music is saying.
Well, there was no lying down, but there was plenty of imagining! Zade rushed over to me and said, "Mom, I thought of a new word! Musimovie!" They started creating a story of a man in the desert with a turban, sneaking up to a princess' window and trying to capture her. They went in and out of character and multiple characters throughout the music(about 30) minutes, and came up with a pretty good story! Princess, ballroom dancing, sword fights, poison, the antidote, good guy, bad guy, etc.
I wrote it down as they performed and they loved that even more! I read it back to them and then they chose a couple other symphonies and made up new plots and stories.
The only input I gave them was to try to think of a completely different story and characters from the one before.
It was such a fun hour! We haven't delved into Shakespeare yet, but I hope when we do, they will want to reenact the plays!
We finished our read aloud today also. Ralph Moody's, Little Britches. We all really enjoyed it. There was a lot of great lines from Father to son that I hope sunk into their heads and hearts.
For the summer we kept things really simple. We wrote out 1, 2, 3 John and the kids read 2 chapter books. Zade read Sign of the Beaver and a magic tree house book and Grace read May B. and the same magic tree house book, Dolphins at Daybreak. I wanted to challenge them to read something a little harder or longer than they have been, but in the end we made a compromise of one hard and one easy. Their reward was a date night with mama. Zade and I saw TMNT, and Grace are going bowling tonight.
Other learning happened through planting our first garden and reaping the benefits of that. Also, having a garage sale and making change, lots of life lessons and many late nights with great conversations and movie watching.
We are moving in a week so we haven't started the traditional school year yet. We will move and get settled, spend a good week with long nature walks exploring our new area and then get back to the books. I am looking forward to every part of it!
I will share more as we get into September what books we will be going through, but for now I just wanted to journal a little of what our summer has consisted of.
Enjoying the last of it, for soon enough we will be snuggled up with hot chocolate and tea and gazing at the leaves changing and the snow falling.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Abiding
I can't quote lengths of scripture and if I do in fact spout off a verse from the Bible, there's a good chance I can't tell you where it's to be found. That's not something to be proud of, just a telling of the truth.
What I can do is testify of the many things that Christ has done in my life and what He speaks into my life, and oh how He speaks!
I have a simple faith but it is fierce. I like to say it's an unshakable adherence to the One who saved my soul. Nothing has shaken me so badly as to let loose of Him and I pray nothing ever will. Without God I wouldn't be the woman I am today, like me or not, agree with the way I live or not. He lives in me, and I cling to Him. It's an abiding kind of life that leads to peace and calm even when the storm rages.
I am in the midst of a mini storm now.
We are moving soon and have no place to move to. Interesting, if I do say so myself. Ever since we had our first big move across half the country, I have felt a kindred spirit to Abraham.
From the ocean to the prairie, to the desert and now up into the mountains; we keep trucking along with our Saviour who opens one way and closes another.
The house we thought we had secured for our family fell threw. The owners needed to sell it as fast as possible and we weren't able to be in that kind of hurry. I'm a slow mover with most things but I sure would have moved quick to snag that cute little cabin if I could of. But circumstances being what they are(we are waiting on our business to sell and Micheal's other job to start up), we have no choice but to be patient and wait hopeful that when things need to work out, they will.
I loved the idea of that sweet mountain cabin. So cozy and a bit of a stretch to fit us all in, but we were going to make it work and by the Lord's grace be happy about it!
After the initial shock of that house not working out, what else could we do but start praying again. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed that first evening after getting the call that the house was not to be ours and Micheal hugged me and said that we have done enough thinking and worrying for one day, we needed to rest and get up in the morning ready for another.
That's exactly what I needed to hear. Rest. In the Lord. It's the only way to get through anything, with peace that is.
So, here we are waiting to hear about another house. Hoping it will work out. Hoping for a home to live in. Hoping for the timing to be good and hoping that we will be like water off a duck's back with whatever Christ lets come our way.
Currently the house we are looking into seems to be a HUGE blessing from the Lord. Isn't that just the way it works out? He knows best. It's a lot newer and doesn't need any improving, just some adding on. In the end, it will be cheaper and bigger. About 1600 sq. feet and for us that is a perfect size. Not the cute little cabin feel like the other one, but it is in the mountains and it will be cozy in it's own way.
Today is just another day. Another day to rest and abide in God. To allow Him to do His thing and a chance to offer my life as a living sacrifice, a holy offering of trust and obedience. Today I get the joy of thinking(and sharing!) of more things the Lord has shown me and done for me and my family.
I get to breathe in the grace of my Lord and breathe out my worries. He has them all taken care of and there is no need to fret. He loves me. I must remind myself of this and I must remind you too. He loves you. Trust in His leading, even when you can't see the way. He sees it all. Trust that He knows what is best for you.
I am Yours, yes I am.
Only Yours, I will abide.
Through it all, through it all,
My eyes are on you.
Through it all, through it all,
It is well.
This is the goal of knowing You; to be Yours.
I will abide because I am Yours and You are mine.
Nothing else for me.
Hold me together Lord, I abide in You.
New mercies every morning, moment by moment.
I am Yours.
I abide in You.
- Bits of worship and thoughts from my journal mingled together
Here we are abiding in Christ, waiting with a hopeful heart that we will have another temporary home here on earth, waiting with a patient hope for our home eternal.
What I can do is testify of the many things that Christ has done in my life and what He speaks into my life, and oh how He speaks!
I have a simple faith but it is fierce. I like to say it's an unshakable adherence to the One who saved my soul. Nothing has shaken me so badly as to let loose of Him and I pray nothing ever will. Without God I wouldn't be the woman I am today, like me or not, agree with the way I live or not. He lives in me, and I cling to Him. It's an abiding kind of life that leads to peace and calm even when the storm rages.
I am in the midst of a mini storm now.
From the ocean to the prairie, to the desert and now up into the mountains; we keep trucking along with our Saviour who opens one way and closes another.
 |
| The house that almost was |
I loved the idea of that sweet mountain cabin. So cozy and a bit of a stretch to fit us all in, but we were going to make it work and by the Lord's grace be happy about it!
After the initial shock of that house not working out, what else could we do but start praying again. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed that first evening after getting the call that the house was not to be ours and Micheal hugged me and said that we have done enough thinking and worrying for one day, we needed to rest and get up in the morning ready for another.
That's exactly what I needed to hear. Rest. In the Lord. It's the only way to get through anything, with peace that is.
So, here we are waiting to hear about another house. Hoping it will work out. Hoping for a home to live in. Hoping for the timing to be good and hoping that we will be like water off a duck's back with whatever Christ lets come our way.
Currently the house we are looking into seems to be a HUGE blessing from the Lord. Isn't that just the way it works out? He knows best. It's a lot newer and doesn't need any improving, just some adding on. In the end, it will be cheaper and bigger. About 1600 sq. feet and for us that is a perfect size. Not the cute little cabin feel like the other one, but it is in the mountains and it will be cozy in it's own way.
Today is just another day. Another day to rest and abide in God. To allow Him to do His thing and a chance to offer my life as a living sacrifice, a holy offering of trust and obedience. Today I get the joy of thinking(and sharing!) of more things the Lord has shown me and done for me and my family.
I get to breathe in the grace of my Lord and breathe out my worries. He has them all taken care of and there is no need to fret. He loves me. I must remind myself of this and I must remind you too. He loves you. Trust in His leading, even when you can't see the way. He sees it all. Trust that He knows what is best for you.
I am Yours, yes I am.
Only Yours, I will abide.
Through it all, through it all,
My eyes are on you.
Through it all, through it all,
It is well.
This is the goal of knowing You; to be Yours.
I will abide because I am Yours and You are mine.
Nothing else for me.
Hold me together Lord, I abide in You.
New mercies every morning, moment by moment.
I am Yours.
I abide in You.
- Bits of worship and thoughts from my journal mingled together
Here we are abiding in Christ, waiting with a hopeful heart that we will have another temporary home here on earth, waiting with a patient hope for our home eternal.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Cultivating beauty: seasonal bounty edition
When God created, He made all things gorgeous and perfect. When sin entered the timeline, death and ugliness came along.
We know all that, but sometimes we forget. Sometimes we are so surrounded by the current news headlines that the ugliness and brokenness overwhelms and brings us down.
But then there are the beautiful moments.
On a walk last night we noticed a neighbor's overflowing apricot tree. He said to pick to our heart's content and so this morning the girls were up early and we rode over in the early windy cloudiness and got us a basket full.
Fact: it does not take a whole day or a perfectly planned out event to cultivate beauty in our lives.
In our case, it was a mere 30 minutes of riding bikes, looking at the scenery of a small neighborhood, laughter from squishy apricots in our toes, challenging tree climbing, tasting the sweetness of orange fleshed fruit, and catching a few perfectly tree-ripened apricots tossed down from mama to child. It was a few moments of enjoying God's creation and it does a soul some good!
When we got home the kids went off to continue on with the story they have been playing out since last night, and I went about taking some pictures of our free fruit; for beauty's sake.
God saw the importance in making things beautiful. I am woman created in His image, so therefore I too am a creator -not THE Creator- but an imitator of what He is, a maker of beauty.
It doesn't take long, but it speaks volumes to our children and the people in our lives, when we cultivate beauty.
What are you doing to create a space of beauty? Are you taking the time to notice all the small things in life that we usually take for granted?
Our daily lives are the sphere for glorifying Christ in all that we do and say. It's a challenge to find the beauty in the mundane daily life sometimes, but a worthy challenge to embark on in my opinion!
In every season there is something beautiful and pleasant to be found; a gift from the Father of lights.
Go about finding those gifts and living in thankfulness for them.
Change the world, one beautiful thing at time.
But then there are the beautiful moments.
On a walk last night we noticed a neighbor's overflowing apricot tree. He said to pick to our heart's content and so this morning the girls were up early and we rode over in the early windy cloudiness and got us a basket full.
Fact: it does not take a whole day or a perfectly planned out event to cultivate beauty in our lives.
In our case, it was a mere 30 minutes of riding bikes, looking at the scenery of a small neighborhood, laughter from squishy apricots in our toes, challenging tree climbing, tasting the sweetness of orange fleshed fruit, and catching a few perfectly tree-ripened apricots tossed down from mama to child. It was a few moments of enjoying God's creation and it does a soul some good!
When we got home the kids went off to continue on with the story they have been playing out since last night, and I went about taking some pictures of our free fruit; for beauty's sake.
God saw the importance in making things beautiful. I am woman created in His image, so therefore I too am a creator -not THE Creator- but an imitator of what He is, a maker of beauty.
It doesn't take long, but it speaks volumes to our children and the people in our lives, when we cultivate beauty.
What are you doing to create a space of beauty? Are you taking the time to notice all the small things in life that we usually take for granted?
Our daily lives are the sphere for glorifying Christ in all that we do and say. It's a challenge to find the beauty in the mundane daily life sometimes, but a worthy challenge to embark on in my opinion!
In every season there is something beautiful and pleasant to be found; a gift from the Father of lights.
Go about finding those gifts and living in thankfulness for them.
Change the world, one beautiful thing at time.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Castles in the sand, trusting in the Rock
To start this post off, I want to share that sometimes things don't work out as you think they will. When I wrote this post, I was on cloud nine, but I had counted my chickens before they hatched. The next day, the guy came to work and said his wife had shown them their finances and they shouldn't be spending more money on a truck. So our truck is still for sale. God knows what we need and more importantly, He knows when we need it. Apparently our truck doesn't need to sell, just yet.
When we got that call a couple months ago about the job, we just knew it was God opening a door for us. It was exciting, but in all reality there is a lot that has to happen for it all to work out. I was watering our garden one morning and was talking with Jesus about it all and He convicted my heart of unbelief. Ouch!
I had asked for prayer and we have been praying for things to happen but I did in fact have a heart that kept saying quietly, "I don't think this is working out. I don't think our house will rent. I don't think anyone will buy the truck. I don't, I don't, I don't...."
So there I was in the back yard and my eyes were opened! Stop with the "I don't" and start believing the, "God can."
And He has!
Our house has renters moving in the first of September. Our business is selling. The house in the mountains is working out. The job is waiting for us. We signed Micheal up for school!
We still need to sell the truck and van but we still need them to get around, so I am praying, really believing, that God will sell them right when they need to be out of our lives.
We are doing what we can to make this all happen, but that isn't much. God is the One that really does the work. He is the One that opens doors and closes them. Gives and takes away. We are just sand in His open palm.
This whole transition has been a great time of seeking the Lord and waiting patiently, in hope.
And that is great practice for the ultimate thing we wait for, the hope of our salvation, coming in the clouds to take us to heaven, where we will forever sing His praises and talk of all the wonderful things He has done and who God is!
The next few weeks will be super busy, so will you please continue to pray that we would rest in Him, and that God would continue to work all things out. We sure would appreciate it!
When we got that call a couple months ago about the job, we just knew it was God opening a door for us. It was exciting, but in all reality there is a lot that has to happen for it all to work out. I was watering our garden one morning and was talking with Jesus about it all and He convicted my heart of unbelief. Ouch!
I had asked for prayer and we have been praying for things to happen but I did in fact have a heart that kept saying quietly, "I don't think this is working out. I don't think our house will rent. I don't think anyone will buy the truck. I don't, I don't, I don't...."
So there I was in the back yard and my eyes were opened! Stop with the "I don't" and start believing the, "God can."
And He has!
Our house has renters moving in the first of September. Our business is selling. The house in the mountains is working out. The job is waiting for us. We signed Micheal up for school!
We still need to sell the truck and van but we still need them to get around, so I am praying, really believing, that God will sell them right when they need to be out of our lives.
We are doing what we can to make this all happen, but that isn't much. God is the One that really does the work. He is the One that opens doors and closes them. Gives and takes away. We are just sand in His open palm.
This whole transition has been a great time of seeking the Lord and waiting patiently, in hope.
And that is great practice for the ultimate thing we wait for, the hope of our salvation, coming in the clouds to take us to heaven, where we will forever sing His praises and talk of all the wonderful things He has done and who God is!
The next few weeks will be super busy, so will you please continue to pray that we would rest in Him, and that God would continue to work all things out. We sure would appreciate it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)