Thankful R Us!

I spent the afternoon shopping for pre-homeschooling convention bargains at a local resource center, and in my view, mission accomplished! Everything was slightly used, and here's what I found: I did my best pricing everything out retail, and I think I came up with between $275 & $300 dollars (give or take $50 or so dollars) for all of the items, and I was able to purchase them in very good condition for $141.oo, and because they were having a 50% off sale, it then reduced the bill to $70.50! Favorite items are: the GeoSafari Game with multiple card sets(not shown). It's one of the prehistoric models but works beautifully! , 7X9" Christ Centered Phonics Card Sets (I purchased 3, using 2 as gifts for two new-to-homeschooling friends), the Usborne books-4 in total, the Phonics Fraction Manipulative kit, Eagles Wings Considering God's Creation Science Curriculum (been eyeing this all year!), plus pretty much everything else I was able to purchase-17 items total. God is good!

They say you should eat before going to the grocery story, and I'm hoping this little shopping venture will curb my appetite at the convention as well.

12 Easy Steps To A Sleepy Smile

How to get a sleepy smile:

Step 1. Allow oldest child multiple opportunities to talk to her Daddy on the phone to get orders from headquarters on how to pull off the big surprise for the Mom's birthday.

Step 2. Allow and help the oldest child to set her alarm clock for, cough cough, 4:30 a.m. in order to pull off the big surprise so that planned event in Step 3 can occur. Remember to seem as though you haven't a clue about the whole thing.

Step 3. Plan a 6 a.m. hike to the pond that same day to observe God's beautiful creation: ducks, cranes, egrets, rabbits, quail, hummingbirds, a roadrunner, some other kind of bird, and ants. (Don't forget to stay up until 1 a.m. the night before!)

Step 4. Get up at 5:15 a.m. Walk downstairs and stand in honest amazement and cast your eyes on the first blessing of many for the day.

Step 5. Recall the shining faces as they observe your expressions of gladness at their hard and earnest work: a set table, a birthday balloon, cards, and thoughtful gifts, especially the pencil.
Oh yes, and don't forget to have them put out a cake, some fruit-flavored licorice and chocolate covered raisins. (It helps to share the raisins with the working children.)

Step 6. Eat a fresh garden tomato and the best zuccini bread ever brought by someone who understands what really matters.

Step 7: Take a short nap-the appetizer for the real one that is forthcoming. Eat again.

Step 8: I don't remember this one. I'm too tired.

Step 9: Read one chapter of The Little Princess to the children who have made every effort to make this a one-of-a-kind day.

Step 10: Watch the young man in the family fall asleep to the sound of your voice as you read.

Step 11: Hold hands with him while you walk upstairs to pack them both off to bed.

Step 12: Sing and Pray with them, thank them (and Him), reflect on steps 1 through 11, and wait.

Results are guaranteed: one sleepy smile for each participant!

A Song In Season

The providence of God saw to it that I would one day meet Roxie. I always thought it was so cool that she and Jeff shared this special day with me-their anniversary and my birthday. Same day, same year. Today is that day, and I have candles to prove it!

If Roxie and I were together we would, on this day....I just know it, laugh and cry together, because that's what happens every time we get together, especially the laughing part. This year is different for Roxie because Jeff went home to be with Jesus in February.

This is a new season for her and I'd like to walk the path with her for a while today. Yes, I'm humming a birthday tune, but I'm humming this song too. I appreciate the footage in this song in that it includes times of joy and sorrow, and I share any of both that this day may hold for you, Roxie.

God hears our prayers, so let them rise on Roxie's behalf today.

Seemingly Small Stuff

I was considering an upcoming mini-study on Oceanography. Coffee in hand, unspoken thoughts. I was thinking about all the scriptures in the Bible that talk about Oceans, waters, the sea and things in the sea, and was just wondering how many verses there were like that. So, I ceased my wondering, opened my Bible and my gaze fell on Revelation 5:13 which says,

"And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang: "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever."

While this happening may seem like small stuff, it says to me, "I am near, Kathy. I know your thoughts, your wonderings, I hear you. So, here's HOW EASY IT IS for me to answer you."

I couldn't help but wonder how many of those kinds of events happen in our daily life that we are unaware of. I like the way He works

Bethany's Grand Old Flag

She wants to do it the way it's supposed to be done now that she's the proud owner of a small American flag. In the dark of a girl's pink bedroom she remembers. You never leave a flag up overnight. I was a guest in the room for that moment as she crawled out of the comfy high-rise bed to do the honors. She unwound the string from the nail on which it was wrapped (wow, how'd she think of that?) and slowly began to lower Old Glory to the floor. It gripped me as a mother watching the girl who decided the flag should be displayed and found a way to do it. I found myself caught somewhere between a laugh and a cry, a strange but very real place, as the flag came down. The heart of the girl who insisted it be done had touched me and brought out that emotion that seems to escape words. I didn't make a sound but just watched. Honor was never more beautiful than it was right then as a young and innocent girl did what must be done. After all, it was the flag.

kidsofcourage.com

John, age 5, in Sudan.

This coming year in our homeschooling journey we will be focusing on World Geography/Countries and Cultures. I have researched a ton of curriculum and am still doing so, making notes here and there of great websites to help us along the way. I am most excited about this one: kidsofcourage.com . It is the Children's link from Voice of the Martyrs. Persecution is a tough concept for children to grasp, and it's certainly not my pleasure to even have to introduce the concept. However, it's a living and dying reality for many. God gives grace and opportunity to teach young ones about other children that He lives and died for, and I want to take those moments to pass that along to my own.

I just spent a few minutes with Bethany reading the feature story about John in the Sudan. We talked also about children in the Phillipines who comb the dumps for their daily provisions. I read this to her from our air-conditioned home while her younger brother was playing contentedly with a load of legos in the background. Her question was, "Can't they come to America?" I'm not sure what everyone's views are; varied I'm sure. My reply was that bringing them to America was not always possible, nor always best. I explained that Christians and missionaries living in those countries are able to speak hope on the spot when they come across someone such as John. I must add that our own church is about 30% New Americans-what we call our refugee families. They came to escape the persecutions and conditions Bethany and I just read about. We have a thriving ESL program called Global Transitions that teaches English 2 nights as week at our facility and it involves about 1 dozen different churches from varying denominations.

Not only do I want to educate the children we've been given, but I long to instill in them the heart of their Heavenly Father for the entire world, free and captive, which He can liberate. (It's an inside job if you know what I mean!) If you know of anyone with young children and feel this would be beneficial to their family, or you minister to children, or you have a heart for the nations and want to learn more then I encourage you to click on the link.

Thankful and Blessed-Kathy

Freedom For All

Hi everyone,

This is an article I wrote for the Worship Team Blog, and I felt it was fitting for every one of us. My added prayer to this article is that the reality of our freedom will bring a resurgence of JOY in our lives, and fanatical thanksgiving in response!

John 8:32
"Then you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

This passage was written to the Jews who had believed Jesus. This passage was written with us in mind.

Galations 5:1
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Galations 5:7
"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"

How's it going? Are you still walking in the complete freedom you were designed to walk in? Positionally we're totally free in Christ....His doing, not ours. Unfortunately, we still tie ourselves up with unforgiveness, idolatry, cool-hearted expressions of love, being preoccupied with everything except the One who we invited in as Lord and Love of our lives. I especially love the verse in Galations 5:7, "Who cut in on you.....?" This reminds me of when God asked Adam in Genesis, "Adam, where are you?" (Genesis 3:9)I know that Jesus would ask us the question Paul is asking, already knowing the answer.

When we lose our first love, we are not living in freedom. We have freedom, but we're not living in it. When we hold onto unforgiveness and other things that can hinder so, we're forsaking, to a degree, the most costly act of love ever demonstrated.

Let's return. Return to freedom, return to the Truth, return to Jesus. Thank Him for His welcoming heart of restoration. Remember, we're running to win! Running to glorify!