simplify

i have so much to say and so little time to say it... but here's another thing on my mind:

this christmas break, i am going through each room in the house and ruthlessly getting rid of everything that i don't need.

here's the concept behind it: do you really think a family with one change of clothes in a small one room hut with two pots and one doll spends all day cleaning? not likely.

i want more time with my family NOT picking up after ourselves.

so i am getting rid of as much as possible and will continue until we are lean. and then we are going to have a lot more time to just enjoy being together in a much neater house!

three rooms down...

humbled

do you know anyone who thinks they are a really great parent?

i am so humbled by parenting. my need for Christ. that He has placed these beloved creatures in my very faulty care to nurture in the admonition of the Lord.

humbling.

no matter how great my love is for these little people, my ability to raise them up is so flawed not only by my sin nature, but by my lack of wisdom.

sometimes you just don't know what to do.

and we cry out to the Lord for His wisdom in hw to teach and discipline our children and we cry out again. and He listens and guides us and holds our hands and leads us.

and we are humbled by His mercy and love and kindness towards even us. these fallen people that He came to love, to serve and to SAVE.

we are but humble creatures in need of this GREAT SAVIOR.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Come on guys, don't wimp out. I know NYR's are not in vogue these days, but lemme give you mine: Put things back where I got them from. PROFOUND.

What's yours???

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

My sweet mom called me today and said that my dad was worried about me. He and my mom were talking about what a huge burden that I carry daily caring for so many young children and how little help that I have. With tears in her voice she said how much she wished she could help me more- she is such a servant heart. Although we live in the same town, she has a lot going on right now and we even rarely get to see one another longer than a few moments at a time, which I am thankful for.

I shared with her somthing I'd been thinking about- that our GOD is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has been so good to me and provided for me, my husband and my children in this crazy time of life. Sometimes people talk about the old days when families lived together and helped eachother, even how people could not have as many children or lost children due to poor medical care overall. Even then, God has not changed. Even if a woman today who has 12 children would have lost 4 in infancy hundreds of years ago, God is still God and He is still our provider and protector. Even if women used to have more help from their families and communities in raising their 3 children, God has not left us as women.

Look for God's provision. Pray for it. Think outside the box and stop yearning for something that's not there- maybe your husband isn't helpful like mine. Maybe you're a single parent. Maybe you have eight children under the age of 6. Maybe you don't have a mother. Maybe you have one child and it's just really hard to raise that one. The Lord has not left us. He will provide. He has called us to further His kingdom by ministering to the children He gives us. He loves you, cherishes you. wants the best for you and your family.

He is the SAME. Always.

cuteness

What's Your Dream?

I absolutely love that black guy in Pretty Woman who

walks the streets of LA saying "What's Your Dream?"

I've been thinking this about my children their education. I'm new to this, so I'm finding my way with the help of others advice and the Lord's leading. I recently realized that rather than trying to fulfill what I think the State wants or what other people think young children should learn and do, I need to decide what I want for my own children. What's the bottom line?

Sometimes we get a little hyperactive about our children's academics at a very young age. For me, this doesn't work too well- it seems stressful, exhausting and unnecessary. My physical work load is probably at its highest right now with six children aged six and under. So what do I want for my first grader and K5er? What does God want? He gave me these wonderful kids and the opportunity to educate them, so I trust that He will show me the best way for how he made THEM.

I want them to be able to read, write and do arithmetic. I want them to follow a general routine in order to learn how to order time. I want them to ENJOY working hard (this starts with a good attitude in me, right?) I want them to LOVE the Lord and serve eachother and others.

Simple right? Heard that before.

Maybe it is time to cut out the busy work- the stuff that makes me feel like I checked off something on my list and focus on the kids and their enjoyment and progress in learning. Forget the emphasis on the records of what has been done. Just because something looks good on paper doesn't mean it looks good in real life- in your home, in your family. I'm hoping and praying that the Lord will keep showing me how to make the most of the time- make things meaningful and cut out what we don't need. Simplify.