schroeder & snoopy

Couldn't resist posting this.....one of those rare times that he thinks no one is watching. I just love the way Aslan doesn't move a muscle....normally this dog does not like loud sounds!! Sorry for the shaky cameramom....I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep it steady! Turn up the sound so you can hear the lovely singing without words!

deep thoughts of a 4 year old

I had to share this little conversation - I don't know - is it a breech of confidentiality? ....but I just love to see inside the heart of a small child , questioning. As I am putting Allie to bed after a short little conflict with her big sister (not a big deal and worked out) Allie gives a big sigh and says...."This life is so hard." Me - "What part of life?" Allie - "Trying to obey Jesus and then just my sins keep happening! It is so hard to love other people."

Oh child but you have hit the nail on the head! You are so right! What a struggle this life is in the flesh - but what a privilege to be able to snuggle and remind her of God's mighty power thru the Holy Spirit and Jesus' victory over sin - so that eventually in eternity we will not have this battle! God's grace is sufficient and God's power can change us and transform us! Jesus proved his love for us by dying on the cross so that we could live eternally with him!

"What a relief," she says after I tell her tomorrow is a new day and she can attempt to love others better.

"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." An he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:20

If only I could trust God with the simplicity and receptivity of a small child.......complete understanding is not one of her requirements. "Jesus said that people should believe in him with a childlike faith - we don't need to understand all the mysteries of the universe; it should be enough to know that God loves us and provides forgiveness for our sin." (Life Application Bible notes) If only my heart was as tender and open to God's love. God's love is total (Eph. 3:17-19). If only God was my first love (Matt. 6:24; 10:37). If only I loved God more than the praise of men (John 12:43) and earthly belongings (Luke 16: 19-31)!

Today my love lesson was courtesy of a 4 year old - which drove me back to looking at all that scripture says about love. It is vast - too much to type. But the gentle reminder to me:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength......Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

literary dress up

Blue dog, Laura Ingalls, Becky, "Aslan", and Tom Sawyer

This morning when I emerged from the bedroom to start the day - this is what the kids looked like! They were all cracking up and informed me that today was "dress up" day at school. They stated that their assignment was "to dress up like a character in literature." Wow! What a creative teacher! Truth is - they came up with the whole thing on their own - I was just an innocent bystander. Jonathan dressed like the "blue dog" in "Go Dog, Go!", Allison was Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madison and Ryan Tom Sawyer and Becky - and of course Aslan was Aslan the Lion from Chronicles of Narnia!

It all would have been fine except for the fact that we needed to proceed out the door and up the block to the neighbor's house for breakfast! As the kids skipped in front of me I sort of laughed thinking what people might be wondering as they saw us go by. Several cars passed. Ahhh, to be young again without a care in the world.....or what the world thinks!

the first day of school: the real truth

(Author's note: even though the date at the top of the page says Aug. 4th - I am really writing this on August 7th!)

I don't really like to wait for things - never was totally into delayed gratification. I was not planning on waiting several days AFTER our first day of school to blog about it.....in fact before our first day of school I was already thinking about taking some school pictures and what kinds of goals I had for the day - then I would run to the computer in the evening and look at my pictures and write up a sweet commentary on how great our day went. Well that was until our day went, ah, lousy at times and by the end I wanted to run - far, far away! I felt like a fraud - you know "a person unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities." So now, several days later, I am going to tell you the REAL TRUTH:

I didn't get up at 5 am to have my quiet time with the Lord - though I would have loved to - but I was up until 12 am the night before preparing. I tried to have a heart to heart talk with God in the shower - where I do most of my thinking. I didn't grind any wheat and make fresh bread before breakfast. I was going to prepare cinnamon raisin french toast for the kids before school, but forgot to get the bread out of the freezer so they had to have cereal. Everyone's books were not in a row and I no idea how I was going to keep Jonathan occupied for 4 hours. I had even decided we would not do all our subjects this week and would go on a "modified" or simpler schedule. This ended up stressing both Madison and me out since we are such perfectionistic "box checkers"! However........

Our morning did start out nicely and we had fun thinking of creative ways we could take pictures. It was even under 100 degrees so it wasn't bad outside at 8am.....finally we all came inside and everyone was eager to rip into their books and start! All of a sudden all four kids were saying....."Mom! I need you! Mom! How do you do this? Mom! When is it my turn?" Suddenly I felt like I had 8 children with 16 mouths and none of them knew how to read or write! Ahhh! We got through that hump well enough that I was able to snap a few pictures of the fun moments!

Overall the day just didn't go the way I'd envisioned to the point that I just felt I couldn't blog about it. Going to bed and starting a new day seemed the best option. Well - that was after I spent at least an hour going on and on about it while Merl patiently listened and gave me some helpful feedback and ideas.

Sure enough - each day this week has been better - attitudes have improved, little successes have been made, multiplication tables recalled, books read, maps studied, perseverance has paid off, and we have made it to the end of our first week.

The REAL TRUTH is that I am realizing this homeschooling experience is not for perfectionists (hmm, like me) who are unwilling to leave a box unchecked, it not for momma's who are incapable of straying from their "proposed" schedule, or for people such as I who just "need" to be able to control most situations, or those afraid to fail. No, it is for mothers like me who desperately want to learn how to love their kids, spend as much possible time teaching and living life with them, and having opportunities to build them up in the Lord. Homeschooling can be for normal people (like me) who WILL fail somehow (probably daily), may not have all the "necessary" degrees, or even people who are absolutely convinced "I could never homeschool." The KICKER for me? I have to be willing to risk - step outside my comfort zone - do what doesn't come natural - be willing to change - to adjust - to accept - be taught - and be molded.

" Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Here are the "high" lights of our first day to the tune of "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

the end of those dog days of summer

Well, I mean OUR summer is ending - but summer isn't really ending.....a few more months of the heat here in Arizona! We spent the day with friends today for one "last hurrah" before each family begins their school year. Monday we will each ease in with a modified schedule of some sort.....The kids had fun swimming, eating pizza, and playing the Wii. What a sweet thing great friends are. After 5 hours together they were still hugging and wishing there was more time. The Lord is SO good to provide us with countless deep friendships we enjoy.

Jonathan and Allie playing peacefully...

Jonathan barely hangin' on!

The alligator....

Alligator eating the seahorse!

The "dolphins" planning a strategy to get away from the "dolphin killers"

Is this my little boy?

A "dolphin" getting clobbered!

"What Think You of Christ?" - John Newton

Check out the words of this great hymn, "What think you of Christ?" written by John Newton (1725-1807):

'What think you of Christ?' is the test to try both your state and your scheme;

You cannot be right in the rest until you think rightly of Him.

As Jesus appears in your view, and He is beloved or not,

So God is disposed to you, and mercy or wrath is your lot.

Some take Him a creature to be, a man, or an angel at most;

Sure, these have not feelings like me, nor know themselves wretched and lost:

So guilty, so helpless am I that I dare not confide in His blood,

Nor on His protection rely, unless I am sure he is God.

Some call Him a Savior, in word, but mix their own works with His plan;

And hope He His help will afford, when they have done all that they can:

If doings prove rather too light (a little, they admit, they may fail),

They purpose to make up full weight by casting Christ's name on the scale.

Some call Him the pearl of great price, and say He's the fountain of joys,

Yet feed upon folly and vice, and cling to the world and his toys;

Like Judas, the Savior they kiss, and, while they salute Him, betray;

Ah! What will profession like this avail in that terrible day?

If asked, what of Jesus I think, though still my best thoughts are but poor,

I say, He's my meat and my drink, my life, and my strength, and my store;

My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend, my Savior from sin and the Fall,

My hope from beginning to end, my portion, my Lord, and my all.

Matthew 22:42

vanishing oatmeal raisin cookies

Today the kids worked together to bake mouth-watering oatmeal raisin cookies. Madison organized an assembly line sort of situation which worked so that each of the kids had a part in mixing the cookies together and then they all helped to put them on the cookie sheets. I came very close to sitting in a chair, sipping my coffee, and reading a book! But, alas, it didn't happen. There was a little intervention needed at the end of the process (after the lovely photos) - but overall it was a extraordinary group effort!