God's Classroom

Read

The Color Green Lyrics

here.

I highly recommend listening to this song by Rich Mullins, The Color Green, while you read this post.  :)

The high today is supposed to be 74.  I knew the kids had to be outside most of today, if possible.  So, we took our lessons outside along with our nature box and socks and jackets.  The children played between subjects.  The babies joined us for a little while.

It was wonderful.

The breeze was cool.  The air was fresh.  And we are all plumb tuckered out.

Our Classroom

Hard at work

Getting fresh air and looking so cute in pants and long-sleeved shirts!

What is this?

Our pup dog, Woodrow

So sweet.

Sam, 1st Grade

Maryn, Kindergarten

Lucy, footloose and fancy-free (almost 3!)

And me, the teacher, once again.

The Books Are Back

Since having the twins, I haven't been able to read nearly like I normally do.  I have always loved to read, and when I am sleep-deprived and going non-stop, I just don't have the time.

And when I'm nursing twins (mostly early on), I had a hard time concentrating on much...and the Facebook app on my phone kept me entertained, and I didn't have to think.

That has all recently changed.  Thank the Lord.  I have missed reading.  I have completed two books this week and started another.

1.  I started reading this back in March.  It took me awhile since I have still been in "baby fog" land.  I just finished it, and I LOVED IT.  I can't even put into words how fantastic this book is.

Buy one.  Buy some more for your friends.  Read her blog.  Be blessed, and be a blessing.

One Thousand Gifts

by Ann Voskamp

This book has helped me to really SEE.  To SEARCH.  To BE THANKFUL.  To BE A BLESSING.

To realize HE IS GOOD.

2.  I am in a discipleship group in our church.  Our pastor leads the group, and he asked us to read this next book.  It's pretty popular right now, though I don't know why--its topic is not a popular one.  I'm just going to trust the Holy Spirit is moving and using this little book.

Radical

by David Platt

The ideas and concepts in this book (discipleship, multiplication, wartime lifestyle, Great Commission) were not new to me.  In fact, I had three years of training in these ideas back in college.  I've lived as a mobilizer in the past, we regularly give to missionaries and have committed to long-term service overseas, we support a child with Compassion (that's her in the photo--Umutesi).  But, for the million things I'm NOT doing, this book was a GREAT reminder.  I didn't feel guilty when reading it, instead, my zeal for giving my life to the Great Commission was renewed.  I feel recharged and encouraged to press on.  There are companion materials online as well.



3.  The book I am now reading is to help prepare me for homeschooling.  I homeschooled Samuel last year, and we were successful.  He learned what he needed to, he blew me away with his brilliance, and unfortunately, we fought a lot.  This year, I will be homeschooling TWO kids.  Maryn will be in kindergarten, and Sam will move on to first grade.  And then there is busy 2-year-old Lucy and the baby twins.  I turned to my friend, Annette (who is a missionary is East Asia with 6 children that she homeschools), and said, "I want your advice."  THIS is the book she told me to read first.

For the Children's Sake

by Susan Schaeffer Macauley

I had been curious about Charlotte Mason, the woman whose ideas this book is patterned after.  She was a teacher/philosopher in the late 19th century.  I had read bits about her and how she viewed children as persons, not merely as containers to be filled with information.  I am excited to see what I learn from this book.  So far, I am enjoying it, and it is helping me to look at my children differently--each as unique creations by God with their own ideas and personalities.  I think when it comes to school, it is easy to lump them all together and do the same thing for each.  The beauty of homeschooling is being able to play to your child's strengths and to meet them on their level--to listen to them and learn from them as well.

I've been informed about a couple of online communities that espouse the Charlotte Mason philosophies:

Simple Homeschool

Ambleside Online

Thank you, Melissa and Laurel, for your suggestions.  I can't wait to spend more time on these sites.


Finally, I have another Charlotte Mason book (the Companion, actually) that I am going to read/peruse (cuz it's so big!!!).  And for fun, I am going to start with the first of the popular, new trilogy, The Hunger Games.

Happy Summer Reading!

Naming His Gifts

I love that as I thank God for the gifts He's given, I worship Him.  I'm telling Him that He is a good Father, a good Savior, a good Creator, and the list will never end.

"To name a thing is to manifest the meaning and value God gave it, to know it as coming from God and to know its place and function within the cosmos created by God.  To name a thing, in other words, is to bless God for it and in it."  Alexander Schmemann (For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy)


And so, today, I take some time here, in this bit of cyberspace, to name some gifts and bless Him for them and in them.

I bless Him...

for blue skies with white clouds,

for wild roses by my front door, 

for prequilted cotton for little girls' skirts, 

for a baby learning to crawl,

for a baby getting two teeth and still smiling,

for sharing the playmat,

for an eldest who daily surprises me with his brain,

for my vivacious sing-songy girl,

for those curls,

for sweaty, red-faced "Bright Light,"

for popsicles on a hot summer day, 

for boxes just her size, 

for wiggly guys...

who climb on each other, 

and think it's normal.

Pretty Things

Reading One Thousand Gifts is one of the best things I've ever done in my life.  I am not exaggerating.  It has truly been a huge blessing.  One of the things Ann Voskamp encourages is taking photos and using the camera as a way to document your thankfulness.  I took her advice this morning and went around my house and outdoors looking for beauty--looking for the blessings He so abundantly supplies.

My $5 vase

My anniversary gift this year: a Hakuro Nashiki Willow

My homemade kitchen curtains

Work in progress

Potential

Sunlight in the Trees

The Diaper Rainbow

A Gift

Life is not a Big Gulp.

I miss running.  I want to do it.  I am going to search for some time to do it.  I think it would feel so refreshing right now.  Just me, the pavement, and the woods around my house.  I just get SO tired...

The babies have started sleeping through the night (well, except for last night, but that was my fault...).  This is shocking to me.  I have done nothing to encourage this, but it is happening!  Both of them!  At the same time!  I hope it will continue.  Maybe then I will have more energy for running.  :)

Dave took the big kids with him last night to CR in Conway.  I wanted to go, but I knew I just needed to be at home and recharge.  I'm discovering that I need more margin in my life.  I have not been very scheduled the last five years or so, but now, I am thriving on a schedule.  It is the only way I can live well right now.  Anyway, I'm realizing that I have to make room for my family, for the things that will bring us peace in our home, for the friends and ministries we want to be a part of (by the way, we've found a local body to worship with!!!), and for myself.  I need this.

So, my goals this Spring are to declutter my life--of possessions, of plans, of anything that just makes me BUSY.  No more busy work.

Life is NOT an emergency (Ann Voskamp).

It's not.  I need to stop living like it is.

I don't need to beat myself up that my kids aren't eating homemade snacks right now.

I need to value my time more and be willing to sacrifice so that my time is best spent.

In fact, I need to nap more.  It's next to impossible, but I can make it happen if I will let go of some things.

Life is to savored--sipped, not gulped--and I've been living Life in Big Gulps.

Time to slow down and focus on what matters most--living well for Jesus, for my family, for my friends, and for me.  Take time to be healthy...time to be joyful...time to be thankful...time to model this for my children.

Life is NOT a Big Gulp.

Little sips...

Life in the Fast Lane

I'm going 85 in a 70.  That's what it feels like most days.  My friend, who also had twins, said she was a robot for about three years.

I am a Geidlbot.  How appropriate!

The twins' naps are getting a little more difficult.  Felix has a hard time settling down.  They're doing that 45 minute wake-up thing that mommies dread.  Milo is rolling over and waking himself up.

It's just a phase.

Lucy is pulling poo out of her diaper and smearing it.  Yuck.  I am pottytraining her now.  I have never liked pottytraining, and I still don't.  I wish I could just wiggle my nose, and she'd get it.  Her speech makes it more difficult to communicate, and that makes the whole process harder.  I hope she gets it soon.  It is hard to juggle.  I do it, but I would prefer not to.

I am not a clown.

I am considering abandoning my blog.  The thought makes me wistful, but I feel like my life is too busy or too mundane to blog about.  I've lost my fervor, and I think I've lost my audience as well.  I'm not really bummed over it, but I'm just not sure enough people read it for me to keep doing it.  I don't know.  I haven't decided yet...I know I've talked like this before, so we'll see what happens.

Anyway, I am still enjoying my gratitude journal.  I've been tested over and over by circumstances that threaten to steal my gratitude and joy.  Even as I was cleaning up poo, I was determined to find something to be thankful for...which was, in that instance, that the poo wasn't diarrhea.  Gross, I know, but you know, something to be thankful for--just the same.

And the list grows...

#46 The way Jesus heals
#49 Learning to deal with anger
#53 The way Lucy's hair curls on the ends
#57 Sam's explanations
#64 The way the Holy Spirit speaks the same thing to a bunch of people to teach us all as a Body at the same time
#68 Sowing to the Spirit
#71 Maryn's laugh
#72 My kids trying to play the quiet game
#84 Spots of purple, pink, and white in a world of brown and gray
#85 Sunlight sliding on spiderwebs
 

My Journey To Contentment

I have seen that a couple of my friends were reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I checked out Ann's blog, and after reading just a few entries, I knew I had to read this book.  Desperately needed to read this book.  Why?

Because I am a complainer.  Discontent.  And it flows from my heart to my mind and out my mouth.  It's ugly.  It has imprisoned me in a state of negativity.  The pessimism was so thick, I couldn't see the optimism for the half-empty glasses.

The premise of the book is that it is gratitude that engages us into communion with God.  If we can't be thankful in the little things, we aren't worshipping Him, praising Him, or giving Him glory.  She began making a list of 1,000 things she loved, and in so doing, she discovered that each was a gift from God, and the mere naming of these things was worship.

I started a journal just for my list.

 "Every day, I will reflect on my blessings.  I will refuse to complain.  I will refuse negativity.  I will be thankful.  Even when it's hard, I will find that blessing in the pain, the beauty in the ash heap.  I will be changed.  He will soften my heart.  My mind. And my tongue.  I will learn to be content."

I've only been keeping my list for six days.  But I can already tell a difference.  I am not giving my mind free reign.  The minute a negative thought arises, I find myself telling it, "No, I will not complain.  How can I be thankful instead?"  Some of you may have noticed my thanksgiving posts on Facebook.  They arose out of this.  There are enough bad attitudes and complainers on Facebook.  I don't need to make it worse.

And you know what I've discovered?

People like to stop and be thankful.  They like the positive.  They like not thinking about what is wrong with everything.

#3    Dave coming home every day
#9    Felix's coughing laugh
#17  Bob Ross and "happy trees"
#19  My baby in heaven, only mine for a brief moment, but always God's
#20  The way Felix hold's Milo's hand while nursing or sleeping
#24  A heart that keeps hoping
#26  Having my hands full
#31  Sunshine
#32  Hearing the roll of tricycles on the deck
#37  The Helper who helps me to choose the path of holiness and contentment
#39  Lucy's giggle as she runs back to her bed and me trying not to smile

Wanna join me?

Pity Party, Anyone?

I'm having a big one at my house this afternoon if anyone wants to join in! I have had the worst attitude and self-absorbed morning. I want to get out of this PITy. Yes, it's a PIT. I've heard the only way to get out is to start being grateful, so here is my list:

I am grateful for:

A nice home that isn't falling apart.

Two paid-for vehicles.

Children.

Husband.

Lots of food.

Brains.

Air.

My dog.

God's timing and provision over and over.

My health.

All these extravagant extras that it is ridiculous that I own--an iPhone, a computer, a TV, a DVD player...all worthless junk in the long run, but I'm so thankful for them.

Books.

People like Brennan Manning who can't help but point to Jesus no matter what the subject.

Friends.

The ever present Jesus.

The ever patient Jesus.

Theology of the Body.

Sewing.

Yarn.

Imagination.

Our Garden.

Shoes.

Air conditioning and heat.

My education.

My Parents.

My Brother and His family.

All my in-laws.

My aunt.

My grandma.

Freedom for the captives.

Beauty for ashes.

Salvation.

Love.

Peace.

Hope.

Joy.

Dancing.

Singing.

Communion of the Saints.

My Husband's Accomplishments

Dave's forgiveness when I'm acting ugly.

My kids' forgiveness when I get mad.

The way Lucy gets so excited to see me EVERY time.

The CROSS.

The RESURRECTION!!!

People praying for me and I don't even know it.

What about you??????

The Turkey Invasion

We are overrun by turkeys today.

I thanked the turkey for giving up its life for us today as I rubbed the poultry seasoning into his muscle. I had heard before that some American Indian tribes did that whenever they hunted deer or buffalo--thanked the animal for its sacrifice.

More importantly, I would like to give thanks to the greatest Giver I know.

Thank you, Jesus, for your Love, your Grace, your Kindness, your Redemption, and your Blessings--too many to count.

Thank You, especially, for my turkeys...errr...family.



Thank You for their very different personalities that bring so much color to my life.



Thank You for my husband. Thank You for how beautiful You're making his feathers.



Thank You for my three little children who teach me more and more about You.



Thank You for being You.



Happy Thanksgiving from our flock to yours!!!

Note: I made these turkeys (except for Dave's gray and blue one--he made it) from the tutorial on THIS WEBSITE.