A Look Back

 This picture was taken back in 2009, when Ted and Collin were 10 and 16.  (This is at The Pickett House Restaurant)

At that time, I had a 5th grader and an 11th grader, and we were still doing some subjects in school together, but things were starting to change, as well.   The days of reading on the couch, surrounded by little boys was quickly fading, and it was a hard change to accept for this mom.  

Ted was so ready to be done with academics.   From his Sophomore year on, he was mentally "done" with school.   After that, it was all uphill for him.    His life revolved around the music that continually played in his head and the guitar that was always attached to his fingers.    There was no room for Algebra or English.

 Here he is, trying to get through the school days.   As you can see, his mind looks a million miles away.   But, he was trying.   He had already expressed his disdain for academics and his desire to NOT seek higher education.   He just couldn't imagine 4 more years of book work!  Needless to say.....this was the topic of many family discussions! 

I felt like Mary (in the Bible), pondering these things in my heart; trusting that God would work all things for Ted's good.  And, He has been more than faithful. 


 

 Then there was Collin!  He looks so little here!  I miss this little guy......sort of.  

This picture represents a time when his desk had to be right next to mine.   He did his work and I did mine, and it was all good.  

 Now he towers over me, prefers to work in his room with the door closed, and doesn't "need" my help.  Well, ok! 

He comes out of his room, asks me to explain something to him, goes back to his desk, and does his work.   Every now and then, I open the door, stick my head in and ask if there's anything he needs help with, but the answer is usually "no" and so I move on.   

This biggest problem I have with him is his distraction factor, which is what boys do.  I know nothing about how girls function in the homeschool, but with boys, there is the constant need to bring their focus back to the task at hand!    So, many times, as I'm passing Collin's room, I will hear drumming going on.   When I open the door, thinking I'm going to catch him standing up, playing his drum, I actually see him still sitting at his desk, reading his work on the computer, drum sticks in hand, doing it all, at the same time!   And, "no" he still doesn't need my help!

And, I had to post one more picture of him.   I think God poured out a double dose of personality on this boy!  Honestly, he cracks me up!


I love those lines you hear when people ask "What would you tell yourself back then?"    Well, three years ago, I would have told myself to relax and enjoy the very stage we were in.   Don't rush it; don't change it; don't force it to be something other than what it is, right then.     With kids, every 6 months can be different!  They are always moving in and out of change! 

They grow - they digress - they grow - they mature - and they continually change into young people.

So just sit back and marvel at this stage and appreciate the good, try to re-direct the not-so-good, and just make sure they know they are immensely loved and cared for. 

In a few months they may be towering over you, voice deep, beards growing, and you are looking up wondering what happened to your little guys on the couch.   

Life is good:)

Conversations at Our House

Sometimes I just have to laugh at the conversations I hear in my home.   Some are hilarious.  Some can be serious.  And some are not to be repeated outside of these walls.  

Here are some notable conversations that took place yesterday:

(knock, knock, knock....) "Can I come in?"  (response) "You can, but I don't have any pants on!" 


Also......
"This may be your room, but it's my house and I'm tired of your bedroom looking like white trash."


"I'm pulling MOM rank on you!"

"When I think of spicy, I think of you!"

"Give him 30 more minutes.   I made him watch the Republican Convention."

"Can I buy your iPod?   I'll be your personal servant for 3 days!"  (response)  "Nope."


And the one that made my heart flutter.......

The conversation taking place between David and Ted, as Ted relayed the exciting parts of his job to his dad.    Dad and Son, talking business and relating to one another, man to man.     This blesses a mom's heart.

And, at the end of the day, the last words spoken between each and every one of us.......

"Goodnight, I love you."   "I love you too."

And that's all that matters when it's all said and done.

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, 

and his lips promote instruction."

Proverbs 16:23

Back to School.....Again

Today is "Back to School" - again - for us.

We actually started last week, with a light schedule, because I've been doing this long enough to know that setting up a full blown schedule from day one, will derail you - FAST!   So, I loosely planned these two weeks before Labor Day, as light weeks, with room for changes, if needed, and last minute detours, if they come about.

Sure enough, we had a few detours, but that's ok, because I "planned" for them:)

David came home last week and said he had to go to a meeting on Monday morning at 7:30, almost 2 hours from here.   So, instead of him getting up at 4 a.m. and heading out by 5:30, we decided to head over to The Woodlands Resort, which was about 5 minutes from his meeting place, and spend the night.

This is one of our favorite places to go!  We love the pool here and you can see why.....

 Sunday night we had this entire pool to ourselves.   NICE!

 

Here's why the kids love it.....the two water slides.   They are inside this tower and you shoot out

of those two holes and into a wading pool.   This pool is great for kids because they have

a volleyball net, a basketball hoop, and they hand out forms to the kids, with various objects on the form, that the kids have to search for, such as sea animals, a treasure chest, etc.   Most of the objects are under water, either on the bottom or sides of the pool (painted on).  In the summer they show movies right out by the pool.    As you can tell......it's a family friendly place to go.

This is a poor quality picture, but the only one I have, so I'm sharing it.  I staged Collin on this little island with "Wilson".    Do you know what movie this is from?   If so, leave me a comment.

Monday morning while David was in his meeting, Collin went swimming and I sat by the pool reading.   I love those times!   We have done this so many times over the years!   That is one of the awesome perks of homeschooling.......being able to travel with David.    What a blessing!
There was one other mom and her daughter that came out to the pool that morning, and I bet they were homeschoolers too, since everyone else was starting their first day of school that day.

So, this was how we started our week.   Today we will resume our normal duties: school for Collin, chores for me.

It's always so good to come home; even after only one night away.    But, it's nice to have the little perks built into the routines, too.

So.....here's to routines......and perks!    They both have their place in this crazy life, don't they?

I hope you have a blessed week - whether you're at home, work, school, or at the pool!

Look for the blessings no matter where you are!

See ya soon:)


**Little addendum to this post**
My smart friend, Niki, brought to my attention that Wilson was originally a volleyball!  OH YEAH, that's right!  Like David always says......he didn't marry me for my brains:)  I stand corrected:)

An Apple A Day

Meet my new health care program.

You know the old saying

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"?

Well, it's true, and I plan to cash in on this wise information!

Once a day (at least),

I fill my gadget with this kind of stuff:

And this:

 

 These are Flax Seeds

(there are a variety of seeds with excellent nutritional value)

This is from Young Living and it's a super-vitamin

in liquid form, made from Wolfberries.

I drink this daily.

I vary my smoothies each day, depending on what I'm in the mood for.

When you buy the Nutribullet,

it comes with a recipe book that has 

specific recipes for specific health benefits.

For instance,

Hormone balance, improved digestion, energy

and many more.

I have noticed an increase in energy in the afternoons.

I haven't had that "I must take a nap" feeling after lunch.

This is a painless way to get your quota of

fruits and veggies into your day

and if you mix the right amounts,

it just tastes like a fruit smoothie.  

This is not an advertisement:)

I just thought I'd share my good news with you.

You can find them on Facebook and read

all the great testimonies about this product,

if you need additional convincing. 

Remember,

you are what you eat!

And I'm really tired of being a bag of chips and

a chocolate chip cookie!

I'm ready to move on!

To Co-Op or Not to Co-Op

Whenever the topic of homeschooling comes up, one of the first questions asked is "Are you involved in a Co-op?" 

I think there are a few reasons for this:

One being that most of us have come from the public school arena and can't imagine our kid's lives without a group of schoolmates to come in contact with, on a regular basis.  It could even include the mom needing a support group for herself and most definitely a place for her kids to get that, all important, socialization.

Two may be that we don't have the confidence to go it alone.   Some moms feel better having an "authority" guiding them and holding them accountable.

Three could be that there are certain classes that are better in a group, such as Music, Art, Science Labs, Drama, etc., and mom wants to add these to the academic basics that they are doing at home.


Whatever the reason, it's something that homeschooling moms give much thought to, year after year.

When Ted (my oldest) was in 1st grade, I desperately wanted to be a part of a group, as support for myself. 

We attended a church that was absolutely NOT homeschool friendly and a huge part of our congregation was filled with schoolboard members, teachers, principals, and students.   You were doomed if you homeschooled!

This church is where we got our first taste of ridicule and harassment over going against the public-school-flow; enduring such comments as "When are you going to put that boy in real school?" And, the one I love to remember: "You're ruining your kid's lives!"

My husband and I love to laugh at that last dig, "You're ruining your kid's lives!"   I look at my handsome, 19 year old son, who is one of the most amazing young Christian men that I know and I look at the professional job he has (without a degree), the ministry he has (leading worship), the fact that he started his own business when he was 18 (TJS Productions), the Christian band that he's in (Over Everest) and I just think about how far off that lady was. 

But, anyway - back to the topic of Co-op.......

So, in those early years, not only did we change churches (whew!), but I went on the hunt for a support group for myself and my children, and we found it in a small co-op.

I will be forever grateful for that group!  Still to this day, we have friends in that community of homeschoolers and it's been great to watch all of those kids grow into productive young adults.

We continued to be involved in that first co-op for several years, until we felt it was time to move in a different direction - the Support Group.

Support Groups are different than Co-ops, as they are merely for recreation (field trips) and support.

The Support Group offers mom and child a place to socialize with like-minded people and have friends to go on field trips with, exchange curriculum, support and just build a group of friends who are doing the same things you are doing, as far as education.

Unfortunately, the structure of the Co-op has changed over the past few years and many of them are turning themselves into mini-schools now, instead of what the original intention was, which was to enhance the homeschool by offering classes that were better in a group, such as Science labs or offering classes that were specialized, such as Latin or Drama.

Some support groups are starting to do the same.

I hate to see this happen because I'm seeing moms, who were brave enough to go against the flow, now turning back and becoming dependent on the idea of others teaching their children, as well as, seeing their children becoming dependent on their peers.    

But, to each his own, and that's the beauty of homeschooling - to be in charge of your kids education, however you choose to get the job done, and it's that freedom to choose that we all enjoy about this adventure. 

We will be taking part in a few labs this year, (Film Production and Art), at a local co-op that has chosen to maintain the original intent of what a co-op should be.    I'm excited for Collin to have the opportunity to learn from some men who are professional at what they do and in classes that I could not offer him at home (that's the whole point!).    If or when this particular group decides to go all "private school" on us, we'll be out of there!   But, for now, it seems to be in a good place.

So, there you have it.......

It's a decision we are faced with each year and it's one that tugs at the heart of every homeschooling mom - that desire to be a part of something or travel the road on your own. 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope your children will grow and learn and maintain integrity.   If these are not the results, then you definitely don't want to continue doing what you're doing. 

Our social groups should NEVER take our kids backwards - only forward!  Anything else would be detrimental to growing our kids for the Lord.  

I wish you all the very best this year!

An Old Lesson Coming Back Around

Many, many years ago, in a time before I was knee deep in school books and teenagers, there lived a woman who used to serve outside the home.    This woman was very involved in leadership in the church (women's ministry, choir, teaching, church secretary) and loved every minute of it..........well, almost.

 I did love every minute of serving in various roles in ministry, except for those moments when someone wanted to bring me down. 

A wise mentor of mine, at the time, told me to always be prepared, because anytime you step out in a leadership role, there will be those who want to put you in your place.   And, she was right.

Now, I'm watching my kids serve the Lord, each in their own ways, and watching them take on the hard task of being out in front and people wanting to minimize what they are doing and it's frustrating.

The sad part is.......it's usually your own peers that do it.

Collin is 13 and recently started writing his own blog.   He writes about what he feels he's learning from the Lord.

This week, he wrote about a dream he felt God gave him; a very disturbing dream about abortion.    While Collin knows what abortion is, he does not know the way the procedures are done or any details about how an abortion is handled.  So, what he dreamed was not from anything he saw (we don't let him watch the news) or anything we've talked about.   Yet, a few days later, he kept feeling like the Lord wanted him to write about his dream.    I encouraged him to do so.

However, once it was on his blog, all he got was superficial comments about nonsense.   On three different occasions the content of the blog was overlooked and instead of his readers engaging in conversation over the nature of what he was writing about, they picked apart his use of a particular word,  started a political debate, and questioned whether the dream was really from God or not.

They missed the entire reason behind the post!

He did not write it to boast, nor did he write it to show off his vocabulary!  He did not write it to state his political views!    Yet, that's what his readers gathered from it.     Needless to say - it was disheartening to him. 

And, so.......the lessons begin!

When you put yourself out front, you run the risk of being criticized.

Even here, on this blog, I leave myself open and vulnerable, because I share my heart and my life with others.    That's not an easy decision!

Writing for a closed group is one thing; sharing your blog on Facebook is a whole different story!   It leaves you open for criticism and arguments and people feeling like they need to correct you all the time.

But, it's not just blogging that gets those responses.

Even the simplest forms of expression seem to draw negative comments from "friends".

Just this week, my husband posted a picture of Collin sitting on the porch, on his first day of school, stating that he was in the "best classroom in the world" or something close to that.   All of the comments were nice - except one, because there is always someone that feels the need to correct everyone.

I've run into that same attitude this week, as well.

There just seems to be this arrogance in social media that it's our job to set everyone straight; it's our job to be a critic about other people's opinions.  My goodness!  I got a lecture this week for making a suggestion about eating vegetables and fruits!   It's just beyond ridiculous.

We're all experts, aren't we?   We all know more than the next guy, don't we?   We all know the Bible better; how to raise kids better, how to eat better, shop better, educate better.

I think about the only thing we could ALL truly boast in is our own pride; our own arrogance. 

So  come the hard lessons I must teach my kids - that stepping out means setting yourself up for lectures, criticism, defiance, ridicule........and most likely, that will just be your friends talking!

But, if our hearts are in the right place and what we are saying is out of concern for others and for "building others up according to their needs" (Eph.4:29), then we should keep on sharing.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  (Galatians 6:9)


How are you treating your friends this week?

Are you building up or tearing down?

Are you speaking in love or out of arrogance and pride?

It's something we all need to be thinking about; lest we cause someone to throw in the towel and give up. 

Take care my friends.

1st Day of 8th Grade

Collin's first day of 8th grade went great!

He popped right out of bed when his alarm went off

and had a great attitude all day, which was nice.

He got creative when it came to locations for different subjects.

His first assignment was filling out his 

Goal Sheet

for the year.

We looked over his goals from last year, talked about

what areas he had improved and what areas still needed

some work.

Then, he had to fill in his goals for this year 

and the steps he would be taking to accomplish these goals. 

He did that assignment here:

Next, 

we sat at the table and reviewed

LOGIC

which is one of his favorite subjects.

We also went over his NOTEBOOK and his CHECKLISTS

for the year,

as well as a RECORD OF LIFESTYLE OF LEARNING

book where he will record what he does each week, in various categories.

We did all of that here:

Next came MATH.

Of course, we couldn't skip that on the first day!

But, when the world is your classroom, 

you can choose your location for learning, can't you?

So, here is where Collin chose to do his math for the day:

Yep!

2 lessons of Math

here in the air conditioned cabin of the boat.

Why not?

I suspect many more school days will be spent here.

It just makes the day seem not-so-boring!

All in all, we had a great First Day of School.

We finished it off with a 3 hour worship service

led by young adults, which Collin

describes as

"the best night of his life"!!

And, I agree.

I'm so thankful to God

for this opportunity

to once again, 

pour my time into my family.

There is no greater discipleship program

than right in your own home.

Make it count!

And, have a blessed day!

Another Year with Collin!

Today is the beginning of another year of homeschooling for our family.   We are officially starting our 15th year of teaching our kids at home; except that I'm down to just one (for academics).    I don't consider my teaching time with Ted to be over; just minimized and in life, rather than book work.

Now, I have just one "student", which is Collin - the child that has given me a run for my money, for sure!

This is the little boy who, when starting out, said he didn't have to learn cursive because he didn't want to and wouldn't need it.   That went on for a few years!    Now, he loves cursive and has the better handwriting out of all the boys in this house!

Then there were all the times when we argued about WHY math is the way it is.   OMG!   To which I replied:  "I DON'T KNOW!  IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS!"     He's my "why" boy!

He's always been a handful, but that's ok, because it's kept our home exciting.   David was reminding me last night of the phase Collin went through, years ago, where he would only wash one hand; whichever hand he got dirty.    Then there was the phase where the answer to every riddle was "Helen Keller".   Hahaha!  I don't know why!   Then the phase (of years) where you never knew what super hero he would be each day, when he woke up.    He would get out of his bed, with his mind already going, and announce who he was that day.    So funny!   He has kept us laughing!

But, fast forward a few years from all of those silly phases to last night, when he came and sat down beside me and told me he was sorry for all the years that he didn't do his best in school.   My heart melted!  He said he knew he could have done better and he felt guilty about it.    It was a great teaching moment that allowed me the opportunity to remind him of God's new mercies, each and every morning.

I told him of God's grace and the song that says "He loves us, oh how he loves us" and the line in that song that says "I don't have time to maintain these regrets...."    God wants us to learn from our mistakes, correct things and move forward; not dwell in regret.   

It was a great moment of sharing God with my son and just one of the many, many moments that I love about being a mom. 

I also reminded him that his "job" at this age, is school.   I've always told my boys that.   When you are in your student years, this is your job and you take it seriously; just like Dad has to go to work and do his best each day.    This helps them to know what their priority is each day and that they have expectations on their shoulders, of doing their best at their job. 

The conversation also gave me a chance to admit my shortcomings as a teacher, which I think is important.   I believe when we can admit our failings to our children, they see humility and truth in us and they know that no one is perfect, so they can relax a little.     They see me moving forward and trying again and again, and it's a good lesson for them.

So, this morning, I am excited about a new year of teaching and learning and revelations about life.

I have loved having my boys at home with me!  I've never regretted this decision to homeschool and I will always treasure these years and I know my boys treasure them too (they tell me all the time).   

I'm excited to see the light come on in Collin's mind, as he learns new things.   I'm excited about the conversations we'll have over smoothies in the morning.   I'm excited to see what God has hiding down inside of Collin; that's waiting to develop!    I won't even say what I see, (outloud), but I have a feeling he's going to be bold for the Lord.    Praise God for that!

So, here we go, into 8th grade!

I'm ready!

Wonder what I'll learn this year?

With this kiddo, I know it will be fun, whatever it is!

Have a great year everyone!

Things I've Learned This Year

As I've been getting things ready for this upcoming school year, I couldn't help but think back to all that we went through last year and all I've learned.   It has certainly been a year of blessings and heartaches, all wrapped up together. 

Here are the Things I've Learned This Year:

1.  Life can change in a matter of seconds (and one phone call).
  Last September we got the call that my dad was going to the hospital for talking incoherently.  Turned out he had very low sodium, but life went down hill from there.

2.  Saying goodbye to your dad, when you feel in your heart it will be the last time, is the hardest thing to do.
Driving down the driveway and wanting to get out of the car and run back to the house is a huge temptation, but you would just put everyone through the same torture all over again, so you keep going.

3.  When someone is on your heart - call them.
The urge to call my Daddy comes to me at the strangest times; then I remember that I can't.

4. I treasure homeschooling!
Without having Collin at home with me this year and the ability to travel, I would not have had the privilege of being with my dad every week.   Our life would have been dictated by schedules and "un-excused absences", which have no place in life.    

5.  Live goes on after death.
I've always wondered how people move forward after losing someone important.   Now I know - you just do it one day at a time, you cry when you feel like crying, then you move on again.

6. Teenagers never stop moving and you get less sleep than when they were babies.
I have averaged about 5-6 hours per night since Ted started driving.   Yes, he has a curfew (even at 19), but as his curfew gets extended, my body gets older and more tired.   It's a cruel joke that life plays on you!  They get more energetic and you go backwards!

7. God sets their path and we are just facilitators.
I worried and worried that Ted's education would not be enough for his future.   Then God came along and swept him off into grown-up land and I realized I was just a facilitator and nothing more.   It's truly up to God and he can do it all without a Harvard education.   Thank you Jesus:)

8. There is nothing like watching your grown child lead worship to the Lord!  Nothing!
It's a beautiful thing to see your child pour out his heart, talent, and effort, to praise our God and lead others to do the same.  

9. It's exciting to watch your children develop their gifts and talents.  The possibilities are endless.
Watching Collin, who is 13, grow in several areas is exciting.   Knowing I don't have to hold the answers to his future is freeing.    (Although he's a great mixture of Tim Hawkins and Jerry Lewis, so it should be very interesting!)

10.  It's such a blessing to have a husband that loves me, after 24 years together! 
God has truly given me the abundant life!

 

11.  Friends come and go, but the ones that know your faults and keep calling you anyway - those are friends for life!

 

12.  Curriculum choices are too plentiful!  

In the end, stick with what works and don't be disillusioned by all the other products.    You'll always have a few that work, so do that and be happy!

13. God has given me a ministry here - in my home, in my community, on my blog - and I need to be faithful to that and not get sidetracked by other things that don't fit into those areas.

14. I don't like to be analyzed.
I've come to recognize that there are people in life that like to analyze you and it's annoying!   These same people usually want to change you, and it's equally annoying.   Accept others as they are!  Who are you to change anyone? 

15. People hide behind things.
Some people hide behind fear.  Some behind obnoxiousness.  Some behind scripture and loftiness.  Some behind self-pity.   Some behind medication and illness.    

16. I still have a love for soap after all these years!

 

17.  Horses are fun to look at.

I don't have any temptations to ride them.  I just want to pet them and watch them.  

18.  I'm always trying to lose weight and get healthier.

It's never going to end!

 

 19. My husband is a great provider and will never let us go without.

Even through losing his job of 10 years, David stayed positive and had faith in God, which was

a great comfort to our family.   We knew that God would provide somehow, and he did, by giving David work to do, even before he landed a bigger, better,  professional position.  I'm so thankful for a godly, hard working man, like David!

 20. In the end - family and friends are the blessings of life.

 

 

And a place to come home to.......

 

Blessings my friends:)

 

A Nice Surprise

I didn't wake up craving jalapenos today, but God blessed me with some anyway!

I got these and a surprise visit from my neighbor:

What a great surprise!   And, she brought me a jar of homemade salsa, made with the other part of this batch!

I love the colors and I love all the different shapes!

 

And, for some reason, as I was taking these out of the bowl and marveling at the differences in shapes,  flavors and colors, it reminded me of me and my neighbor and how different we are; yet the same.

We are both married women with children.   We live on the same street, in the same town.    We both have emotions, we both need friends, both want to be pretty and healthy, and we both want the best for our families.

Yet, even with all the similarities, we are different.   We have different dreams, goals, likes, dislikes, tastes, desires, looks, etc.  

But, one thing is for certain - we both need a savior.  

We are both sinners -  just longing for love and guidance and provision and protection and acceptance from the God we love and trying to survive in this world that can be cruel.

We may be different; but we are the same.

 We are both part of the body of Christ:

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all it's parts are many, they form one body."  ( 1Cor. 12:12)

And we are both loved by God:

"For God does not show favoritism."  (Romans 2:11)

I think it's important, as we look down our streets and see our neighbors, to remember that we are all people, in need of love and salvation and we all have an important part in the Body of Christ.  We all have a story, a heartache, a need, a want, a nightmare and a dream.

We are all different - yet, the same.

I Guess It's True!

Well, I guess it's true.......

David's always teasing me about having to rearrange the entire room, all for the purchase of one new thing, and of course, I always say it's not true.

But, I guess I proved myself wrong today!

You see......it all started with me wanting some toast this morning.   The only problem is - we don't have a toaster (we had one, but it was a cheap piece of junk and it started smelling funny (like fire) the last time we used it, so I threw it out.)    I don't like turning the oven on just for a few pieces of toast, so I decided to run out and buy a toaster - real quick.  

Now, it's not like I ran out in my robe, just because I was craving toast!  We were out of milk too, so this was half necessary and half not.    (Only, I didn't go in my robe, although it's Wal-Mart, so who would notice?)

Anyway.............

I found a toaster,  brought it home and placed it here:

But, of course I had to move some things around, which led to me moving this and that, here and there, trying to find a place for everything.

(You can't tell, but this has all been rearranged!)

Which led to putting some things up in the cabinets.....

which led to moving some jars to the opposite side, labeling some things, throwing out some vitamins that were expired, finding a bread mix I wanted to use but had forgotten about, etc., etc......

 

But, in between all of this rearranging, I got hungry so I stopped to make some tacos for Collin and I, with some chicken in the fridge.    After all was said and done with the tacos, I decided to use the rest of the meat to make Chicken Tortilla Soup for tonight, so I threw a bunch of stuff in the crock pot and got this......

 

Then I remembered that Collin's little cousin was spending the night tonight and doesn't eat anything I fix (ever!) and that I told Collin I would let them make homemade pizza.    So, I got out the bread machine, poured in the ingredients, and an hour and a half later, got this......

 

 So, now, not only do I have a new toaster, but I have managed to rearrange, clean, clean out, eat, wash some dishes, prepare for two different entrees tonight, all while listening to Dave Ramsey on my iPad and all because......

I wanted some toast, which I still haven't made.

Gee.   Wonder what I'll wake up craving tomorrow..........

People People Everywhere!

If I had to use just a few words to describe this weekend, they would be:
PEOPLE, FRIENDS & WORSHIP!

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity from Friday night to late Sunday night, but, oh, so worth it!

Friday night we went to David's 30th Class Reunion and it wasn't as torturous as I expected it to be!

I knew the names of all of these people (I've heard stories of all their years together for 24 years), so it was good to finally put faces and names together.

Then Saturday night there was an All Year Reunion, which included anyone, from any year, that was a graduate of their school.    This was a huge event and a lot of fun for David.   He saw so many of his old friends from Elementary school, on up to High School.    

Living in a small town gives you the advantage of going to school with most of the same people from the time you're little until you graduate.    Even then, those who stay in town, see one another frequently, here and there. 

I was happy he got to see his old friends and I felt very welcomed and may have made a few new friends myself.

Then, switching gears from old friends to our current friends, Saturday night we also had a graduation dinner to go to for my best friend's son.   

It was a surprise dinner for Payden and it was such a great time of fellowship with family and friends. 
There were some tearful moments as everyone there stood and told something they remember about Payden.   Family and friends all had the same conclusion: Payden's a great, godly young man and we all love him! 

Payden is a Missionary Kid and now his mission is living up here (again) and leading worship with Over Everest (he's the drummer).     He's a great joy to all of us and we're so happy he's come home for such a time as this. 

Sunday morning, we all went to church where Ted and Payden were leading worship, then to lunch, then home for a little rest before heading out to the "big event" of the night - Over Everest in concert!

If you listen to Christian music, then you might recognize the name Leeland.   My friend Jessica and her family are friends with Leeland's family, so Leeland's mom invited Over Everest to come and do a worship concert Sunday night, at their home church. 



Here is Leeland introducing and praying for the band as they get ready to play (Payden's on the left on drums, Terry is in the middle on vocals, and Ted on the right on guitar):

Here's the rest of the band (Garrett on far left on keyboards, John on bass, Darin on guitar)

God was moving in that room last night! 

God has placed such an anointing on Over Everest and every time they lead, you can feel the spirit of God in the room.     They truly are an amazing group of people.

Well, that was our very busy weekend!   I'm exhausted and I feel like I've met hundreds of people in the last 3 days!   I think I'll be a hermit this week and enjoy the quiet of home for awhile. 

This week will be spent putting the finishing touches on school assignments and schedules; gearing up for our first day, which will be next Monday.   I think I'm actually looking forward to it! 

Unfortunately, I think I'm the only one!

Oh well.   It's been a great summer and I can't think of a better way to end it, than watching God work in my children's lives.

I'm a happy mom!

Thank you, Lord.

A Social Experience

The past few weeks have given me some interesting insights into people and their behavior.

It's either a full moon or some other gravitational pull that makes people go nuts, but whatever it is, it just makes you shake your head in wonder.

It's like brains have just evacuated and left behind these people, who normally act rationally, but all of a sudden, are acting like no one can see them and won't be affected by what they do.

Believe me!  People are being affected!

Promises broken, obligations dropped with no explanations, fear and pride, public humiliation of others, no communication, last minute drop-outs,  reaching out but being discounted anyway, excuses - excuses and on and on it goes.

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

if you have been trapped by what you said,

ensnared by the words of your mouth,

then do this, my son, to free yourself,

since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: 

Go and humble yourself:

press your plea with your neighbor!

(Proverbs 6:1-3)

If you've done something stupid, said something stupid, acted ridiculous, or just otherwise made a mess out of something..........don't just stand there!     Do something to make it right!

Someone who humbles themselves and admits their mistakes, asks for forgiveness and moves forward, will always have a better reputation than someone who stays hidden for their own reasons and causes doubts and speculation in other people's minds.

And, the results of humility and an apologetic attempt, should be grace and forgiveness on the part of the recipient.  

It's all a circle - coming and going.  

If we keep it moving, it works the way it's supposed to. 

It's Not ALL Up to Us!

 It's almost Back-to-School-Time and moms all over are in a frenzy to get the right supplies, clothes, backpacks, shoes, etc., in order to send their kiddos off into the great institution of learning.

But, we homeschool moms have a whole different set of concerns!

For us,  the conversations sound more like:
"How in the world am I going to teach suchandsuch?"
"How am I going to pay for all of this curriculum?"
"What should my schedule look like?"
"When should I start implementing college courses?"
"Why is my kid the only one not doing multiplication, but he can tell you all the branches of the legislative suchandsuch!"
And, last but not least......
"Yes, we will be doing Latin again this year.   What about you?"

We have a crazy list of concerns, that go so far beyond worrying what to pack in a kids lunch box every day, before we even get to the teaching part!

Homeschooling moms carry a lot of burden on their shoulders!  We have basically taken on the responsibility of making sure our kids grow up to know how to read, write, spell, add, multiply, know the branches of government,  learn how to drive, get into college, know how to tie their shoes, know how to write their address before highschool, know how to take notes (just in case), know how to socialize (ha!) and know Latin conjugations so they can ace the SAT!  

It's not a job for the weak!

But, if there's one thing I've come to grips with over the past 14 years of teaching at home, it's this:
I can't do everything!   

And, praise be to God........I haven't had to!

Part of successful homeschooling is choosing great resources!  There are options out there, for just about every subject, for those who are weak in certain areas.    You don't have to know everything!  (Public school teachers don't know everything!)   You just have to know what to use, in order to get the job done.

Giving your kids the right resources is a must, but turning them over to the Lord, is an absolute way of insuring they will succeed.

Teaching your kids at home is like anything else in life - you can work at it with all your might, but the outcome will be determined by someone much bigger - God!

God has a plan for each one of your kids.   Consider this:

Jeremiah 1:5 says:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

And, Ephesians 2:10:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

And, as Frances Chan, the author of Crazy Love, says:
"My existence was not random, nor was it an accident. God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work."

I have learned this first hand with my oldest son, Ted.

God revealed to Ted, his calling in life at an early age. So, while we were working on the educational basics, we were also allowing room for God to prepare Ted for the "good works" that HE created Ted for.

What did that look like in the educational realm?

Well, it meant that I did my part by teaching the basics: reading, writing, etc., but then I stepped aside and allowed Ted the freedom to pursue his dreams.    He did this naturally and without pressure from me, (which would have just messed things up, anyway).   We gave him the time to work and listened to his ideas.   We even indulged him with equipment that he needed to pursue skills related to his passion (lots of equipment needed for recording and music).    We were believing in his passion and helping him pursue it, even though we knew nothing about how to teach it or lead him.   But, we didn't have to,  because the drive was in him, to learn the trade on his own.

It also looked like this:
Ted telling us he didn't want to go to college and us trusting in God enough to let go of that expectation.

This sounds easy enough, but for a man who went to great lengths to obtain his degree, David had a hard time with this!

Being in the business world, David truly felt a degree would be the key to many open doors for Ted.  But, to Ted, the idea of many more years of academics sounded like torture.

However, I am now seeing that God truly does have it all in His hands and it isn't all up to us. 

Ted is living his dream of singing and leading worship, as well as having just started a professional sales job with a local TV station (and he did it without a degree). And, I know that I had very little to do with it. 

See, I truly believe that God would have taken Ted exactly where He wanted to take him, with or without us.   We are just overseers.   We are just caretakers.   We are guides and tutors.   But God is the orchestrator of our kid's lives.   He is the one who knows the end destination.   He is the one that knows the requirements.   He is the one that can arrange the interviews and determine the outcome.
It's not all up to us!

It's SO not up to us!

I'm not saying that every kid will find their purpose in life at an early age.  I don't think that happens all the time.    In fact, I have a 13 year old who has all kinds of interests, but at the moment, he's just a kid with a lot of interests.    There are things that certainly stand out, but I'm trusting God to sharpen those skills and direct his path, whenever the time is right.      In the meantime, I will teach the basics, indulge his interests (within reason) and wait on the Lord to do the rest.

Don't try to turn your kids into something they're not.   It won't work!  You'll be miserable and so will they.

You can teach with purpose and move forward each year; covering your choices in prayer.   But, give yourself release in the area of thinking you have to figure out the future for your child.   You don't!  It's really not your place - it's God's.

He's the one that had it all figured out, before your child was even born.    He has already set aside good works for your sons and daughters.    He has already carved out their path and placed that still-small-voice inside their hearts.   

The best you can do is make sure they know Him.  

They need to know the One who holds their future.  They need to trust the One who has it all worked out.

Without knowing God, they will be lost, and their future will be a guessing game at best.

So, if you want to know what to teach this year........
teach dependence on the One who has all the answers.

I think that pretty much covers it.

Random Thoughts to Share

After a few days of not posting, here is a recap of our weekend:

Ted (my 19 year old) came home from camp Thursday.   Actually, that sounds like he was off at camp, when he was actually off with his band, Over Everest, leading worship for two weeks.   Regardless,  before Thursday, we had spent about two days with him over the past few weeks and I was ready to see him!

Friday,  David took the afternoon off and we took Ted shopping for a suit.  He needed a suit for the new job he started today (more on that in a minute).    It was nice for all 4 of us to go together.  Obviously I don't go shopping with Ted anymore.   The last time I picked out a shirt for him, he very nicely told me it wasn't his style.   He's perfectly capable of picking out his own clothes.  However, the suit thing was different because he wanted our opinion on such a big purchase.  

We went to two places (that David recommended), all while Ted kept telling us that we should go to Express, where they have suits that fit him.   Of course, we exhausted all the "business man" options before listening to Ted and going to the place he wanted to go to in the first place.    And, what do ya know?  Found a suit the minute he walked in, tried it on and bought it!  Could have had that trip over in about 45 minutes had we listened to him in the beginning!  Oh well!

That night, David, Collin and I, went to hear our friend Britt Godwin play acoustic guitar at a local venue.   Good old classic country just takes me back to my childhood.   Britt had actually stopped by our house that morning and I was telling him about an old Hank Williams song, that my grandmother used to play on the piano, called "Your Cheatin' Heart".    I used to sit and just watch her hands go up and down the piano keys, while she played and sang that song.    So, Britt played it that night and it brought tears to my eyes.   I still had that feeling of sitting on that piano bench with my MawMaw.  Sweet memories!

Saturday was a big day for David.   He finally got his boat running and cleaned up, after two years of it sitting in the yard!  It took a lot of work and I'm so proud of him for sticking with it and seeing it through!    He was so proud to have it in the water again!

 

Sunday was a huge day.   It was Ted's first day as the official Worship Leader at a new church that is just starting up.  He's been on the leadership team for over a year now, working to give the building a facelift, as well as, do outreach and support the pastors in the start up.     This was a "preview" service, where they invited some of the neighborhood groups they had ministered to, and held a service, in preview to the official opening of the church, in September.     The worship team did a fantastic job.   I will never get used to the awesome feeling of worshiping my Lord, with the voice of my son, coming out over the microphone.     It's just indescribable.  

This picture was after the service, as they are just about to put away their

instruments.

Ted is the one in the middle.

(Not a great picture, I know.)

Sunday night we had all the members of Over Everest Ministry over (plus one more) for dinner.   These guys just needed some time to hang out and eat and not have to pick up an instrument, (although I did catch Darin in a chair with a guitar at one point.)

We had such a good fellowship.   Watching these guys together is so awesome to see.    They truly have a love for one another.   I pray God will protect that unity and continue to give them a love and respect for each other.   

We did nothing but eat and sit around and talk, but it was really a nice night.    I didn't even take any pictures, although the boys took some silly ones of themselves out in the boat.  

I was going to share about Ted's new job on here, but I think it merits a post on it's own, because I've got some thoughts to share about it.

I hope this recap of my weekend hasn't bored you to tears!

Hope yours was a refreshing one; filled with great food and fellowship too.  

See ya at the next post:) 

Pictures from a Fun Day

Yesterday was the famous "Chick-Fil-A" day and YES we participated!  I wanted to get there early, so we could beat the crowd, and that was a good decision! 

We arrived about 8:00am and had no problem getting our food.  However, the crowds inside and out were starting to grow as we were finishing up our breakfast and as we left church last night after 7:00pm, the lines were still going!  

Anyway, that was just part of our day..........

After breakfast, I finally took Collin on a Photo Day.   I had been promising him we would go to Downtown Beaumont and take pictures of some old buildings and landscaping, but we just kept putting it off, due to weather and other things.

Here are some of my pictures (Collin's are on his own camera):

 I love columns!  Every since I read a book about styles

of architecture, I have been fascinated with columns and the different styles. 

Julie Rogers Theater

 

 

 Fountain in front of Julie Rogers Theater

Old church

Old Fire Escape

These used to interest me and they remind me of 

movies

These are pictures of a very old theater,

The Jefferson Theater,

where many famous people have played.

This is the original box office window.

This is Hotel Beaumont,

another very famous place.

There is an old Ball Room up on the top floor

where many artists played and performed

during the "old days".

It was turned into a Retirement Home

and David actually worked here for a short time.

My family has performed a few times here, as entertainment

for the residents.

They have since closed it down, which is a great loss.

Here is Collin taking a picture of this statue's mustache.

It's funny what the "eye" sees when behind a camera lens.

I was noticing the man's cowboy boots, and Collin 

was fascinated by the mustache.

And, last but not least.........

my favorite:

I'm sentimental about our flag.

(Notice the little bird on top of the building?)

 

Now, that was a fun day!