Thoughts on Parenting
When you have one foot in each parenting box, so to speak, you learn to straddle--er, balance things a bit. The whole point is for us to work ourselves out of a job. What does that mean? It means that when my children are grown and moving on with their lives, that they will be responsible, functioning adults, loving the Lord, each other, and their parents too. So go on, work yourself out of a job. In the next phase of life we get to try something new: Getting to know your spouse again! ;) Enjoy!
Just a quick post to say Hello, and Yes, I’m still here! We have had a tough couple of months. Thank you for all of the kind comments and notes of support, and especially the prayers. Without you prayer warriors we would have been lost for sure.
The situation forced us to make the hardest parenting decision we’ve ever encountered, and the Lord showed His hand throughout the entire thing. I can’t go into a lot of detail, but I will say that our 14 year old daughter is now living out of state for the next year. We are struggling, but God is faithful. We lacked faith, but He showed us every single step and not a moment prior to it’s needing to be taken. He didn’t show us what was ahead, or how it would happen, but He provided everything, every person, every situation that was needed. Our faith has been strengthened by many multiples, and at the same time we are learning how dependent upon Him we truly must be. What Satan wanted to use for evil, the Lord is using for good not only in the life of our daughter but in the lives of everyone in the family.
And our daughter recommitted her life to Christ last week. I can’t praise the Lord enough for that, either.
Maybe sometime I’ll tell you more about this, but not for a while. Probably a long while. Now, it’s time to get back to some semblance of normalcy for my boys, meaning school starts again on Monday. We just got done with a week of VBA (same as VBS but with Adventure!) so now we can get back to our regular schedule. I’ll resume regular posting probably this week.
God bless all of you who prayed, and even those of you who didn’t. We’re just so thankful for our church family and everyone else who has helped us or prayed us through.
Blessings,
I wrote this a long time ago. We are still in the midst of this awful, stress filled circumstance, and we just keep praying for the Lord’s peace. This is just where we’re at right now.
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PEACE
It feels like the world is crashing down around us
In our flesh we don’t know what to do
But ‘Great is My peace’ you promise
If only we turn and worship you.
Amid turmoil and uncertainty
Your banner will always stand
A shield you raise and a fortress around
As you hold us in your hand.
We fall short, we fall down
We say ‘But Lord, there’s something we must do’
And again you say, ‘Great is My peace’
If only we turn and worship you.
To worship, to raise our hands
To surrender worldly cares
Is difficult in times of trouble, but
‘Never will I leave you’– you remind us you are there
When it seems the world is crashing down
And in our flesh, we don’t know what to do
But great is our peace in You
As we turn to worship, true.
That is how we feel right now.
The reason I’ve not been blogging much is that we are dealing with a huge situation which is escalating all the time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1Peter 5:7-9
We are being attacked by Satan himself. I cannot go into details but just ask you to pray. It is happening in our own home. We are praying for the Lord’s covering and protection over us, that we would be able to make wise decisions and do what is best for everyone involved. We will not be moved! That doesn’t mean this is easy though. Oh Lord, this is just so hard. Help us please!
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:58
I know that. I know. I know. It’s not in vain. Please pray we can hang in there.
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
THE TEACHER
by: Leslie Pinckney Hill (1880-1960)
LORD, who am I to teach the way
To little children day by day,
So prone myself to go astray?
I teach them KNOWLEDGE, but I know
How faint they flicker and how low
The candles of my knowledge glow.
I teach them POWER to will and do,
But only now to learn anew
My own great weakness through and through.
I teach them LOVE for all mankind
And all God’s creatures, but I find
My love comes lagging far behind.
Lord, if their guide I still must be,
Oh let the little children see
The teacher leaning hard on Thee.
Just thought I would share one of my favorite poems with you today.
We are year-round homeschoolers. It isn’t exactly my first choice, but it seems to be the only way I can keep from repeating too much information in the fall. We do school three months on, one month off. Our “Summer Vacation” will be the month of August, when it’s too hot here in the Inland Northwest to even THINK. Better to just take the kids to the lake and keep cool… Or sit in the house with the air conditioning, which is actually my preference. 
What I am seeing, however, is that this warm weather is drawing all of us outdoors and making me feel lazy, already. I decided that, since I realize I will be combatting heat and the overwhelming desire D1 has to be in WATER. ALL THE TIME. The sprinkler is a great motivator for him. The kid can play with the sprinkler or the hose for hours, and that is no exaggeration. So we will only do organized school four days a week, from the time the big kids get out of school (June 19) on.
Actually the following week is VBA at church, and the boys will be there for three hours a day anyway. I’m not under any assumptions that after VBA that I will get them even CLOSE to able to sit and do math or handwriting. That’s okay. We’ll do some science and reading and call it good during that week. It’s my school. Right ladies? It’s YOUR SCHOOL. You can run it however you need to, in any way you feel is best for your family. I remember, from time to time, how much I do love doing this homeschooling thing with my kids, and part of the reason is its flexibility.
Yes, I can be flexible. 
Too bad I’m not Mrs. Incredible though. Then I could get laundry folded while sitting down reading with the boys. Now THAT would be really cool!
