We went to Sam's. There, Bella did the sweetest, cutest thing ever. She put a quarter inside the red (Salvation Army) container to help the needy. As I sit here on my desk, I think that this has been a very satisfying day. Oh, one thing I almost forgot to tell you was that we went to Gigi's house after we left Sam's and we ate pizza and oranges (Cuties) and watched 3 (1 &1/2 hours)Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle shows. ~Bailey's pick (written by Bailey)
To have all of our family and friends over. ~Sam's pick
*Most of the pictures were taken with Gigi's camera but these are from my phone.
"Marriage can force us to become stronger people, because if we want to maintain a strong prayer life as married partners, we must learn how to forgive. We must become expert reconcilers. Friction will inevitably develop. Anger will surely heat up on occasion. So we must learn to deal with conflicts as mature Christians- or risk blowing off our prayer life in the process. Marriage forces us into the intense act of reconciliation. It's easy to get along with people if you never get close to them."
"To worship God throughout a lifetime requires discipline. Without discipline, our worship of God will be thin and inconsistent...Worship can't be diagramed or calculated, for it is the response of a heart in love with God. And yet, we also must be able to think of worship as a Discipline, a Discipline that must be cultivated just as all relationships must be to remain healthy and grow."
I never finished listing 1000 Gifts so I am enlisting help from the children! Livi and Cameron are contributing this time. Livi said she's thankful for family. Cameron specifically said he's thankful for Bailey. :) Yes, so thankful that we have each other as we strive to love, learn with, forgive, and accept each other, and grow together by God's grace.
I found these quotes from a blog post by Juana Mikels:
A careful woman I ought to be;
a little girl follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
for fear she'll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape her eyes;
whate'er she sees me do, she tries.
Like me, she says she's going to be
that little girl who follows me.
I must remember as I go
Through summer sun and winter snow,
I'm molding for the years to be
that little girl who follows me.
~Author Unknown
"Relinquishment is always a part of the process of maturing. When Christian parents have done all that can be done to shape their children for God, the time comes when the hands must let go. The child, now a responsible adult, must be released. For any parent this is painful, even when the child is moving in the direction the parents prayed for. The child's continued development, and the spiritual health of the parents as well, depend on the willingness to accept this next stage of the cycle—hands off, ready to part without a struggle, giving up authority and control, entrusting that child to God
~Elisabeth Elliott
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away..."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-6
"How is it possible to worship God publicly once each week when we do not worship Him privately throughout the week? Can we expect the flames of our worship of God to burn brightly in public on the Lord's Day when they barely flicker for Him in secret on the other days? Isn't it because we do not worship well in private that out corporate worship experience often dissatisfies us?" Then he goes on to say, "Think of it: The Lord Jesus Christ is willing to meet with you privately for as long as you want, and He is willing-even eager- to meet with you every day!" And then, "Exercise this privelege and fulfill this expectation for the glory and enjoyment of God forever."
This is about time management. I love this analogy. Juana is a precious woman too.
http://www.juanamikels.com/search?updated-min=2011-12-31T21:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2012-11-27T16:28:00-05:00&max-results=50&start=21&by-date=false
If there is one Titus Two, Godly woman I wish I could immulate...
http://www.nurseryofthenation.com/2011/08/sarah-edwards-reverent-wife.html?m=1
"A small child, after watching his house burn down, was quoted as saying, 'We still have a home. We just don't have a house to put it in.' How perceptive of that child. Our home should be a trauma center for the whole family. We don't have to be perfect at home- just forgiven and forgiving. We can grow, we can make mistakes, we can shout for joy, we can cry, we can agree, and we can disagree. Home is a place where happy experiences occur. It's a shelter from the problems of the world, a place where love happens, acceptance is given, and security provided. Home offers a respite from the tragedies that seem to plague the world outside our door, as recounted on the newscasts. Within our four walls we can offer a place of peace."
~Quiet Moments for a Busy Mom's Soul by Emilie Barnes
Liv has been learning about Johnny Appleseed, different types of apples, making applesauce, and learning about the fruits that people can grow in their lives (love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)! Everyone got to sample Jonagold, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and my favorite, Granny Smith. We also discovered the star that God has hidden inside the apple. :) We'll be simmering the applesauce in the crockpot and have it for dinner tonight!
In good days and bad days, say, "God, I want to be used by you."
It is possible to fake it really well as a Christian. Look at Judas.
Josiah- no king like him again. He did not turn aside to the right or left. The key to a tender heart- when you hear the Word, do you want to do something about it? Josiah committed his life to obey.
We can't become something we're not becoming now.
Tackle tough choices, battle crippling sins, cultivate biblical awe.
~Notes from a John Glass sermon, preached at TBC
It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
I have taken invaluable ideas for prayer from, A Word-Filled Family by Dr. John S. Barnett and home management ideas from, Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman.
Prayer
Monday- Prayers for missionaries, pastor...
Tuesday- Prayers for family needs
Wednesday- Prayers for forgiveness and reconciliation
Thursday- Prayers for victory (Staying pure, not getting bitter in trials)
Friday- Prayers of reflection (Examine whether or not we are giving Him first place in our lives
Saturday- Prayers of praise and preparation for Sunday
Home Management Schedule
Every day- Kitchen clean up
One load of laundry (or
every other day)
Goals: Morning walk every morning (weather permitting) Read-alouds when staying indoors.
Bible reading
Empty kitchen sink every night before bed
Monday- Laundry Day, Sam's Laundry (Bella and Liv's too)
Tuesday- Clean/Vacuum Floors, little boy's laundry
Wednesday- Office Day/bathrooms
E-mail business, write thank you cards, dr/dentist appointments, make needed calls..., Bailey's Laundry Day
Evening Bible Study
Thursday- Kitchen Day
Sam-Piano
Friday- Town Day
Saturday- Cleaning Day
Make a menu plan
Clean out car/sometimes wash
Garden/weed
Consign clothes and drop off "giveaway" bags
Chore Sticks: The kids can pick a popsicle stick with chores written on them. Such as: wipe baseboards, organize movies or books, clean windows, help weed garden, organize school drawer, Draw Again (Just for fun), "Ask mom" (this one is for something mom sees that needs to be done but is not written on a chore stick.) This idea came from Tonya Ferguson @ https://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/
Sunday- Church/Rest
If not done, write Bailey's lesson plans. Look over Livi's.
School Schedule
Monday-Thursday
I wake- 6:45 or before (Feed baby 6:30)
Kid's wake-7:45
Morning chores/breakfast/personal Bible
9:00-Morning walk/pledge/Bible
10:15- Livi- Kindergarten with mom (Cameron alongside)
Bella- Independent schoolwork
Samantha- Co-op work
Bailey- Switched on Schoolhouse
Noah- nurse/eat and morning nap
11:30- Bella-Math/Spelling test ( some days) with mom and corrections
Liv- "Livi Time"
Cameron- "Livi Time"
12:00- If done with Bella and Sam is done with co-op work- math with Sam
12:30- Lunch/Bella done
1:00- Clean up
1:15- Cameron, Livi, and Bella- "Bella Time"
Sam- piano/violin. Then Switched on Schoolhouse.
Bailey- Co-op work
Around 2- Nurse/feed Noah
2:30 or so- Math with Bailey
3:00 or so- Math with Sam if not earlier
4:00- Quiet Time
4:30 Cook dinner
5:00-6:00- Finish dinner/Kid's Chores/Mom-Cleaning focus of the day
6:00- Dinner with Dad
6:45- Dinner clean up
7:15- Read with Cam and Liv
7:30- Cameron and Liv bed
8:30- Sam, Bell, Bay- Book Time
These two are a God-honoring young couple. They point others to Christ and are so encouraging to see.
http://theseewaldfamily.com/2015/10/today-s-devotional
Something I need to be reminded of right now. A favorite quote of Jessa (Duggar) Seewald's that she posted on her blog.
“Faith is not believing that God will do this or that. It’s believing that whatever He does is right and good—and resting and trusting that."
We had a sweet time with friends! The kids didn't appreciate my taste in pumpkins- the bumpy green one. ;)
"Remember, people are changed through observation, not by argument."
I came across this on a blog. The man was giving an example of a mother kneeling down and praying at her bed when a child walked in. He said it was 10 times more effective than telling the child to pray. He also mentioned the same with Bible reading.
Livi decided to fly to the moon today, just like Little Bear. Making the rocket was a group effort! Just after "take off," the children got mail from Papa and Gramma Bobber! :)
