Weekly Wrap Up - September is nearing the end

Week 2 of school

Friday we did a science day with cousins- We did a little study on digestion and then we made our own stomach to see how acid breaks the food down. Here they are squeezing out the stomachs to see what the acid(vinegar) did to the food(bread)

Squeezing the stomachs(balloons) to break up the food with the acid. ewwwww

After one of Evangeline's Bible readings this week she was supposed to do a quick sketch of something in the story. I always do this with her and we use the white board. Look at our lovely art. :)

For science Evangeline was supposed to test beak types and try and catch popcorn. The boys enjoyed helping her with this. We decided that birds with big paper beaks can catch food the best.  (just joking)

Evangeline is finally more than halfway through her guide and doing very well at being mostly independent. Timothy is not as far along as her and still codependent. I have learned that by breaking math up throughout the day in between everything else it does not overwhelm him as much and things go far more smoothly. The little boys are loving math which is very simple at the moment and I will be starting more serious phonics with them this week.

If you wish to join in with your own weekly wrap up visit weird unsocialized homeschoolers

At the park

Peaceful playtime at the park was just the way to spend our last night as a family until Daddy gets back from his trip.

Playing some catch

Sliding Oso down the slide. (Poor doggy)

My 2 men

Just look at how handsome they both are.

Bubble time

God blessed us with beautiful weather and glorious clouds to watch.

We dropped Justin off this morning and the team is headed to the airport as I type. For those who may not know he will be with an MBS team in India for nearly 3 weeks. Please keep the team in your prayers and I also ask prayer for the families. This will be by far the longest we have been apart since we got married and although I feel a peace about it I know that we all will miss him.

Whatever is Lovely

Finally Brothers,
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil 4:8

I am so Thankful this week that I was able to remember to focus on the beauty in my children this week. I can not say there active, crazy, sometimes sweet, sometimes crazy, sometimes violent behavior has changed. I can say my heart towards it is changing. Whatever is lovely Lord that is what I want to see and think about.

I am Thankful for a little bit more order in my schedule

I am Thankful for a now 10 year old who is growing more independent yet still needs me.

I am Thankful for new insights into the mind of my 7 year old (whom I may never completely understand) :)


Thankful for the new to us cabinet my Dad and Mom gave us. :) Haven thinks it is the perfect place for a nap. The beauty of childhood and joy in the simplicity.

What I learned while my husband was away

I was reminded once again just how blessed I am to have my Justin. I learned that 3 little boys need there Daddy more than they think they do. I learned how much my little girl has a tendency to worry about any and everything. I learned that I really don't always trust in God like I should, I really don't Pray like I should, and I don't guard my thoughts like I should. I really realized again how disorganized I tend to be and just how much God has grown me in that area although I have far to go. I got a little more reminder that I am who God made me to be and I need to stop trying to be someone else.

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [1]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain! [2]
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts! [3]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! [4]

My husband has returned refreshed and renewed. With a fire for God I have not seen since, well a long while. Lord help me to keep the flame burning. Let me not be a discouragement or a stumbling block. Give me words of encouragement and wisdom Lord. Lead us together down your path for us.

Loving my family today and excited to start school with the kids for the week with an encouraged heart.

Creation Camp 2010

The Lions may be weak and hungry but those who fear the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10

This was a great Camp for myself and I hope for all the kids who attended as well. Reminded me how much I enjoy ministering to a childs heart. Also that even when I lack and feel I may have failed, God is in charge and he always triumphs.

I had great, great girls this year. They are growing in God and walking that rough rode of life decisions and future plans. Had a great conversation with one of the girls Sat night that so reminded me of myself at that same age. God was showing me that although sometimes I doubt I have much to offer others even the little I have is enough. It's all he asks and it is all I can give.

Breathing Anew

Some days I wake up weary and then what do I do? I consider how weary I am, I dwell on it, I swim in it. Far to common of an occurance as of late. Slowly it dawned on me that the more I linger in a place of worry and weariness the less I feel like doing anything about it. After all I am a sinner and a failure.

Why I wonder is my house not as tidy as I would like it to be? Why aren't my children as polite and content as I would like them to be? Why am I not as submissive and caring as I should be? Then the light comes on inside of my heart. Knock knock, my God reminding me to dwell on him and not on myself.

The beautiful Glorious sunshine yesterday reminded me of how my spirit lifts when I go into the sunny world and soak in it. How much more will my spirit lift if I Go into the Son and soak him in?

Calling on my Lord today and knowing he does hear me and will help me take to baby steps on my journey of becoming the person he created me to be.

Jeremiah 33:3

Verse for Thought

We started a study on the book Shepherding a Child's Heart. Actually our pastor asked us to host it for our church.

Here are a few verses from this weeks study that really made me think.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Matthew 15:8
"These people honor me with there lips, but their hearts are far from me.

The author points out that we are not to be simply changing behaviour in our children but changing there heart. These verses as well as many others that he gives illustrate how behaviour issues stem from the heart. Something I should already know, and yet I found myself realizing that I do often discipline simply to stop bad behaviour rather then to reach out and change there heart!