A Lifetime of Love

Well, Th and I just completed our first year of school (at home). Third grade was challenging for both of us. I was nervous because it is a pivotal year in a child's education. The subjects contain concepts that are more difficult to grasp. For instance, multiplication/division are taught in math, higher-level vocabulary is used in reading, and various grammar concepts are applied in language arts. Th also learned to write in cursive this year, which was a rewarding experience to observe in and of itself. Besides his academic maturity, he has also grown in other ways. Spiritual: Th moved up from the Pee Wee Sailor's Club to join the Patch Club. Each month, he has to memorize passages of scripture (8-10 verses in length) to earn a pin for his hat. He made the transition in December and has earned 5 pins for the remainder of this year. He has also formed new friendships and strengthened old ones as a result of this Club change. Faithfulness: Th has shown ...

I love the spring, When everything’s new. I love the blooming flowers And the chirping birds, too. I love the summer, No schedule to care. Swimming, park days, And of course shorts to wear. I love the autumn, When the air turns cool. The falling leaves, and kids’ go back to school. I love the winter, When the holidays near. Especially Christmas, ‘cause our new baby will be here! We are excited, Another blessing from above. God tells us in His word, He is good and full of love. Knowing this, we trust Him As God will provide. For our every need, Including a ride. We simply won’t fit, Into a mini-van any more, We’re maxed out, Stuffed full to the core. We’re considering an Excursion, Or perhaps a Suburb-an. I guess I’ll admit it, Maybe even a church van. Personally, I am striving to have "intentional faith." Trusting Him to guide me, just as His word saith. Pregnancy brings joy, but also I fear, So I'm trusting the Lord, for He...

is the name of the novel I just finished reading. I would consider it as historical fiction as it includes many key events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement. I gotta tell you, it's definitely now one of my Top Ten all-time favorite books. It is so poignant and captures the viewpoints of what it was like to be black in a Southern town during the 1960s. It explores the relationships between white socialites and their housekeepers in Jackson, Mississippi. I guess what made this book so touching to me was that it made me stop and examine my beliefs, both as a child and now as an adult. It also caused me to reflect on the beliefs I have witnessed in others, whether spoken or otherwise. It also reminded me of a time when, during the early 1980s, my family had help in the form of a black woman. We were living in the South, in Texas, and the Civil Rights Movement was not too far removed. I think about our housekeeper every once in a while, how she ...

I had the opportunity to attend a Ladie's Retreat at the Wilds  last weekend with ladies from my church. This was only my second time being able to go, and I had so much fun just laughing and sharing with friends. It was a nice reminder of how blessed I am to be able to have such encouraging, supportive friends in the women from my church. I hope I was just as much of an encouragement to them as they were to me. My pastor's wife, Gretchen, was the speaker for the weekend. She taught about having "intentional faith." My favorite quote from her for the weekend was personally very challenging to me. She asked us, "Are you a practical atheist (meaning we say we have faith in God that He will work in our best interest, even in difficult times, but our actions don't match what we say) or are you practicing intentional faith?" I know for me and some of the circumstances I've experienced, I have (wrongly!) doubted God and His goodness towards me. It was re...

We took a mini- field trip this week to get some hands-on experience with some amphibians and reptiles, which Th just learned about in science. Although I do not really like those type of animals, they are a reflection of God's handiwork and part of His creation.   The kids LOVED it!!!   Inside a baby alligator's mouth- plenty of SHARP teeth!! T.G. was in love with all the animals- not scared one bit! Teagan, on the other hand, was content to just sit, eat her candy, and watch from a distance (much like her mother!) =)

We are almost at the end of the school year and our first year of homeschooling. I can honestly say this school year has passed very quickly! Here are just a few things I have learned along the way: School is to be taken seriously, but I don't need to stress myself about it If Th gets a concept, I don't need to keep going over it just because the Teacher's manual says I do. At the same time, if Th needs a little more time with a concept, I don't have to move on until he has reached mastery. Flexibility is the name of the game Some days we get started at 8am and work straight until he's finished with all of his subjects, other days we start and he works for a bit, then we take a break and bake muffins or run errands or go to the park and simply finish later on in the day. I LOVE that about homeschooling! Along with flexibility, if Th shows an interest in something that I might not have planned to study in-depth (i.e. the Gold Rush), I can go ahead and allow h...

and a beautful tree was knocked down in our yard. I am thankful it wasn't one of the enormous Oak or Pine trees in the yard as one of those would have surely killed or severely injured someone. Storms like the one last night remind me how weak we are in the sight of God. I need a reminder every now and again! =) * The heavens declare the glory of God ; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. ~Psalm 19:1