Today we will be singing our hearts out! We are listening to Christmas music now, at 7:00 in the morning! Way to early to be up and going. Anyway, get out there and sing some Christmas songs today. I plan on going caroling sometime this month...maybe I can convince my extended family to go with me.
Tomorrow we will decide on a program to donate to. (D is for donate) Does anyone have any ideas?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
B is for Blessings
So, today we are counting our blessings. Honestly, this was not easy for me today. I had to take my sweet baby to get his shots:( This is usually daddy's job. Plus, I had errands to run and house to clean and school to teach... Well, I decided not to run the errands and go to McDonald's instead. Caleb did really well and is now taking a nap. I still have a house to clean, but with three boys that will always be there! :)
That being said, my most precious blessing is my husband. He has such a strong faith in God and is a great daddy! He is very good about putting me first and teaches the boys to respect me. We've had some pretty tough times and it hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to share my life with.
Blessings number two, three, four, and five are my boys. Todd, I look forward to the day when we will be reunited. Adam, my big man, Daniel, my middle man, and Caleb, my baby man. They are so absolutely precious! Even on the days when they add more gray hairs to my head(yes, I said more). I have days when I just want to have a sit down with God and ask Him to explain to me how He thinks I can raise three boys! It's overwhelming at times. But, then He lets me know that I'm not on my own. I don't know why I have to always be reminded of this. God always gives me just what I need, exactly when I need it. Plus, He gave me a wonderful husband who is the best partner I could ask for. My family, stressful at times, definetly messy, but absolutely priceless!
Adam's blessings: Caleb, Daniel, and our whole family. I'm a Christian and I don't have to be afraid of stuff.
Daniel's blessings: football, food to eat, cupcakes, and McDonald's.
That being said, my most precious blessing is my husband. He has such a strong faith in God and is a great daddy! He is very good about putting me first and teaches the boys to respect me. We've had some pretty tough times and it hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to share my life with.
Blessings number two, three, four, and five are my boys. Todd, I look forward to the day when we will be reunited. Adam, my big man, Daniel, my middle man, and Caleb, my baby man. They are so absolutely precious! Even on the days when they add more gray hairs to my head(yes, I said more). I have days when I just want to have a sit down with God and ask Him to explain to me how He thinks I can raise three boys! It's overwhelming at times. But, then He lets me know that I'm not on my own. I don't know why I have to always be reminded of this. God always gives me just what I need, exactly when I need it. Plus, He gave me a wonderful husband who is the best partner I could ask for. My family, stressful at times, definetly messy, but absolutely priceless!
Adam's blessings: Caleb, Daniel, and our whole family. I'm a Christian and I don't have to be afraid of stuff.
Daniel's blessings: football, food to eat, cupcakes, and McDonald's.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The ABC's of Christmas
This morning I was looking through some old magazines and found on article in Parent Life. The ABC's of Keeping Christ in Christmas. It provides a list from A to Z with ideas of things you can talk about and activities to do as a family throughout December. I remember trying to do this last year, we did some, but this year my goal is to do every single one. I will also be blogging about them, maybe every other day.
Today we did A: Accept- Accept responsibility to model your faith this season.
We talked about how we can show others how we love Jesus by the way we act. The idea of modeling our faith made an impression on Adam. He thought it was really cool that he didn't have to always tell people about Jesus, but he could show them. Here are some ideas Adam came up with to put it into action:
1. Let Daniel jump on the trampoline more than me.
2. Give Caleb a toy when he's crying.
3. Help clean up without complaining.
4. Tell people thank you and Merry Christmas when we are at Wal-mart.
5. Let others get in line first.
Tomorrow we will be counting our Blessings. The song Count Your Many Blessings has been on my mind all day.
Merry Christmas!
Today we did A: Accept- Accept responsibility to model your faith this season.
We talked about how we can show others how we love Jesus by the way we act. The idea of modeling our faith made an impression on Adam. He thought it was really cool that he didn't have to always tell people about Jesus, but he could show them. Here are some ideas Adam came up with to put it into action:
1. Let Daniel jump on the trampoline more than me.
2. Give Caleb a toy when he's crying.
3. Help clean up without complaining.
4. Tell people thank you and Merry Christmas when we are at Wal-mart.
5. Let others get in line first.
Tomorrow we will be counting our Blessings. The song Count Your Many Blessings has been on my mind all day.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, November 7, 2008
God smart
The other day we were taking a walk and I asked Daniel what color a leaf was. "Orange", he said with confidence. (It was green) I told him it was green and then asked him who made the leaf. He said "God did!" O.k. so maybe I'm bragging just a little. It's just that here lately I've been stressing out about the education of my boys. Do they know all they are suppose to? Will Adam be on track when he starts first grade? Does Daniel know all his shapes and colors? Apparently not :) But, even though Dan didn't know what color the leaf was, he did know that God made it. Which is more important? I guess it all depends on who you ask.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says; 'These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' There are many, many verses on parenting. I have yet to find any that say my son should know all of his colors by the time he's three.
I do think their education is important, that's why I was stressing to begin with. It's just that God has a way of helping me put things into perspective. Sometime it's through my husband, sons, or other people. Most of the time it's through His scripture. I'm very thankful for the Bible today.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says; 'These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' There are many, many verses on parenting. I have yet to find any that say my son should know all of his colors by the time he's three.
I do think their education is important, that's why I was stressing to begin with. It's just that God has a way of helping me put things into perspective. Sometime it's through my husband, sons, or other people. Most of the time it's through His scripture. I'm very thankful for the Bible today.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
God and interior design
Wow, it's been a long time since I have blogged! Since than I've been very busy with homeschooling, potty training, playing with baby, Bible study, and lots more. I'm still doing those things, just learning to schedule my time better. That's kind of what the Bible study is about, more on that some other time.
Adam was having one of his conversations with God the other night, I was blessed to hear it. He was telling God exactly how he wanted his house in Heaven to look. He wants it to be blue, with two floors, and an Xbox in every room. He went on and on about the details of his house. It has a play room with one of those jump houses and no pink things are allowed.
It got me thinking...about Todd...about Heaven...about family...about what it will be like. I would like to think that I will know Todd and he will know me. Are his eyes blue like Adam and Caleb or are they green like Daniel? Will my sons still know each other? Will they get to met their big brother? Will I be able to ask God all of the questions I'm thinking of now?
God knows. We can't even begin to imagine. I think that's part of the joy, the excitment, the surprise, the anticipation of Heaven.
Adam was having one of his conversations with God the other night, I was blessed to hear it. He was telling God exactly how he wanted his house in Heaven to look. He wants it to be blue, with two floors, and an Xbox in every room. He went on and on about the details of his house. It has a play room with one of those jump houses and no pink things are allowed.
It got me thinking...about Todd...about Heaven...about family...about what it will be like. I would like to think that I will know Todd and he will know me. Are his eyes blue like Adam and Caleb or are they green like Daniel? Will my sons still know each other? Will they get to met their big brother? Will I be able to ask God all of the questions I'm thinking of now?
God knows. We can't even begin to imagine. I think that's part of the joy, the excitment, the surprise, the anticipation of Heaven.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Adam's story...just the beginning
This morning Adam accepted Christ as his Savior! Let me tell you about it...
I've been trying to get the boys on a schedule, since we start school next week. So, at 9:00a.m. we started reading from the Bible. As I was talking about what God made on the third day Adam announces that he does not want to do this. I found myself growing frustrated and told him he wasn't going to get on the computer.(I made him get off for Bible study) He told me 'No mommy, I don't want to do this, I want to pray.' I said,'Oh, o.k.' and started praying, my patient son then said, 'No mommy, I want to pray.' I asked him what he wanted to pray about and he said he wanted to pray 'that prayer' he wanted to be a Christian. My hands started shaking...tears forming...'What do you think it means to be a Christian Adam?', 'When you ask God to forgive your sins and be with you forever,' he said. We talked about the ABC's of being a Christian. Admit that you are a sinner, Romans 3:23 Believe that Jesus is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness, John 3:16 Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Romans 10:9-10.
Adam said he knew he was a sinner and wanted to tell God he was sorry. He wanted God to save him so he didn't have to be afraid anymore. (Adam tends to be a bit shy, very leery about things) He told me he didn't want to use those big words, so I told him he just needed to tell God what he was feeling. This is what he said, to the best of my memory:
"Dear God,
I know that I sin and I'm sorry. Please save me. I want to go to Heaven someday. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. I want you to be with me always so I don't have to be afraid of anything. Thank you for saving me. Amen"
After he prayed he gave me a great big hug and tears started running down my face. He looked at me, wondering what was wrong. I told that I was o.k. that sometimes I cry when I'm happy. He didn't quit understand that, but was fine with it. Then he said, 'Now I'm just like my daddy!' More tears...more hugs...and laughing.
The Bible study ended with loading up the minivan and going to the mall to tell daddy all about our morning. Adam's morning...the beginning of his story.
I've been trying to get the boys on a schedule, since we start school next week. So, at 9:00a.m. we started reading from the Bible. As I was talking about what God made on the third day Adam announces that he does not want to do this. I found myself growing frustrated and told him he wasn't going to get on the computer.(I made him get off for Bible study) He told me 'No mommy, I don't want to do this, I want to pray.' I said,'Oh, o.k.' and started praying, my patient son then said, 'No mommy, I want to pray.' I asked him what he wanted to pray about and he said he wanted to pray 'that prayer' he wanted to be a Christian. My hands started shaking...tears forming...'What do you think it means to be a Christian Adam?', 'When you ask God to forgive your sins and be with you forever,' he said. We talked about the ABC's of being a Christian. Admit that you are a sinner, Romans 3:23 Believe that Jesus is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness, John 3:16 Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Romans 10:9-10.
Adam said he knew he was a sinner and wanted to tell God he was sorry. He wanted God to save him so he didn't have to be afraid anymore. (Adam tends to be a bit shy, very leery about things) He told me he didn't want to use those big words, so I told him he just needed to tell God what he was feeling. This is what he said, to the best of my memory:
"Dear God,
I know that I sin and I'm sorry. Please save me. I want to go to Heaven someday. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. I want you to be with me always so I don't have to be afraid of anything. Thank you for saving me. Amen"
After he prayed he gave me a great big hug and tears started running down my face. He looked at me, wondering what was wrong. I told that I was o.k. that sometimes I cry when I'm happy. He didn't quit understand that, but was fine with it. Then he said, 'Now I'm just like my daddy!' More tears...more hugs...and laughing.
The Bible study ended with loading up the minivan and going to the mall to tell daddy all about our morning. Adam's morning...the beginning of his story.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Ben-Hur and me
This morning I woke up to feed Caleb his bottle at about 6a.m. He actually fell back asleep and the other boys were still sleeping, so I thought I would have a nice quiet time with my Savior. Then the boys woke up. :) I'm finding it very difficult to arrange my schedule so I can have a quiet time. You may be thinking, what about now instead of blogging? I managed to get the boys interested in breakfast while I had time in another room. :) Anyway, I wanted to share what I read out of Our Daily Bread, so here it is:
'Lew Wallace's book Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir.
That's what happens to us when God adopts us into his family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him" (Rom. 8:17) The gospel does not say"Come to Jesus and live happily ever after." God's syllabus for His children's education includes training through hardships.
Ben-Hur's years of enduring hardship as a roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his "friend-turned-enemy" in a chariot race.
As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur's victory, so are they vital in the Christian's war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God's way to prepare us for greater service for His glory.'
As I look back on my life I think of the hardships and joys. The hardest thing I've had to go through is losing my son, Todd. It was such a shock and certainly nothing I ever thought I'd have to go through. There were questions, why me? what did I do? why didn't You work a miracle? The thing is I didn't 'do' anything, losing Todd was not punishment for anything. Also, God did work a miracle, just not in the way I would have chose. He showed me what His comfort feels like and how to comfort others. He showed me how to be joyful while I'm suffering. He showed me that even though I will go through hard times I will always have Him, I will never lose God. Again, I would never have chosen to say goodbye to my son, but I will always cherish the things that I have gained through my loss. Way too many things to mention in one blog...till next time,
Amy
'Lew Wallace's book Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir.
That's what happens to us when God adopts us into his family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him" (Rom. 8:17) The gospel does not say"Come to Jesus and live happily ever after." God's syllabus for His children's education includes training through hardships.
Ben-Hur's years of enduring hardship as a roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his "friend-turned-enemy" in a chariot race.
As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur's victory, so are they vital in the Christian's war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God's way to prepare us for greater service for His glory.'
As I look back on my life I think of the hardships and joys. The hardest thing I've had to go through is losing my son, Todd. It was such a shock and certainly nothing I ever thought I'd have to go through. There were questions, why me? what did I do? why didn't You work a miracle? The thing is I didn't 'do' anything, losing Todd was not punishment for anything. Also, God did work a miracle, just not in the way I would have chose. He showed me what His comfort feels like and how to comfort others. He showed me how to be joyful while I'm suffering. He showed me that even though I will go through hard times I will always have Him, I will never lose God. Again, I would never have chosen to say goodbye to my son, but I will always cherish the things that I have gained through my loss. Way too many things to mention in one blog...till next time,
Amy
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