A pleasant 'T' party with the girls....

No, I am not talking about a 'political' designation~yet these 'T' party's will change the course of history. 

Nor am I talking about a 'tea' party which serves a beverage~yet these 'T' parties are just as refreshing, if not more so!

When the girls were little they would get all dressed up and we would serve 'tea' and have those kind of tea parties. Now, they are older, and we are busier but we still have 'T' parties...they are 'Talking' parties. This is when the girls and I hide out from the littles, in a room or bathroom and we TALK. These are some of the best times of the day. Ok, more often than not we giggle and laugh instead of talk! And actually we are not trying to solve the worlds problems, and I confess we aren't even having a prayer meeting! We are simply....Talking. Bonding. Making memories and sharing life together. So if you don't always have time for a 'tea' party, perhaps you can just go somewhere and have a 'T' party instead. No particular dress attire required:)

It is difficult parenting in this present age....

                               

  We teach our 4 year old that if the seams are showing on his shirt that it is 'inside out'. Then our oldest son comes over in a Aeropostale shirt that is made with seams on the outside.
  In regards to 'time' I have asked the little kids "Tell me when the big hand gets on the....." and they ask "Whose hand does what?" Oh yes the digital age. They don't even know what a regular clock looks like.
  Our family in particular likes to complicate things further. Of course we teach our children to 'never touch a gun if you see one'. Then we go to reenactments and they play with them all weekend. Or how about this one, "never point a gun at anyone" ...unless of course you are at a reenactment and Yankees are coming!
  Or, "You must further your education": Yet we find that 'higher education' is often unprofitable and we would recommend a trade school for our boys instead.
  Yes it is a complicated age that we live in, however scripture teaches us that "There is nothing new under the sun". These are merely some of the reasons why we are adverse to legalism of any kind. Things must be discerned and decided upon based on context. Romans 8:5 tells us: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
( http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.xii.ii.html)
  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.(John 6:63)
  Now with all of that being said, let us not fall into 'emotionalism or mysticism', when it comes to discerning the will of God. Of course; (2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
  May the Lord give us grace to live in "Spirit and in truth", and rightly divide the word of God.(Heb 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
                         

A conversation with God...WHOM SHALL I LOVE TODAY LORD???

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; It does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  

Well Lord, I love my friends!

 Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Lord the children are so demanding!

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Lord help me to be a good example to them!
... with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, (and) receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Lord are you truly honored by my service to my children?

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

May we be encouraged today to love our children, and not cause them to stumble, and may we cheerfully serve them by the grace of God knowing that in this we are obeying and honoring the Lord. Looking forward to that great day when He says

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

                                     ~Dana

Fleeting childhood

I do want my children to have a happy childhood! So many children do not, not in this present day nor in days gone by! I think as parents we can 'train children up in the way they should go' so that they may enjoy a happy adulthood as well:) 

Inspired from within. That is right! Or more correctly, "Inspired from above"! I believe it is divine inspiration that led us to homeschool, that causes us to daily home-disciple and SURELY it is divine inspiration from above that gives us the grace to persevere in that calling! Everyone has a story of how they came to homeschool, what is your story?

There is a method to this maddness!

If you haven't done so already please add your comments to the post below as the 'poll' seems to not be functioning. Thanks, we want to hear what you have to say:)
  The term most of us use is 'homeschooling' which is essentially what we attempt to achieve. However, we think the work 'home-discipling' better describes what the Lord calls us to do. All of us as individuals will live that out in different ways. The one thing we can all keep in mind as a goal, however we employ our homeschooling is; We live to please the LORD. It is desirable to keep up with the super school Jones' or, it is easy to covet the easy going Gonzales'... but how has the Lord called you to live out your faith by being obedient to 'train up your children in the way they should go'?
  One reason why we are STRONG advocates of home-discipling aka homeschooling is because that is one of the most practical ways in which you can obey the Lords command to train up your children. How can you do that if they are in school over 40 hours a week? The Bible states that 'Bad company corrupts good morals'. Can we not also add that good company enforces good morals?
  The Lord gave your children to YOU. That is an indicator that He has chosen the best one suited for the job of raising/training/discipling that child.
  Please take a minute to comment and share how you 'homeschool' in your home! God bless!

Home-discipling poll

Since I can't get my poll to work, I'll post the poll! See the poll off to the side? You can post a comment on 'how your homeschool rolls'. Are you primarily structured/scheduled, casual/flexible or a mixture of both? Thanks for taking part in the poll!

Henceforth~Theodore Monod

 Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow, that a time would ever be, when I let the Saviour's pity plead in vain, and proudly answered; "All of self, and none of Thee".

 Yet He found me; I beheld Him bleeding on the accursed tree. Heard Him pray; 'Forgive them Father', and my wistful heart said faintly: "Some of self, and some of Thee".

  Day by day His tender mercy, healing, helping, full and free, sweet and strong, and ah! so patient, brought me lower, while I whispered; "Less of self, and more of Thee"

  Higher than the highest heaven, deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered; grant me now my supplication; "None of self, and all of Thee"

Thoughts on eternity....

Could you be so selfish--and so cruel? 

(G. Whyte, 1888)

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" Revelation 21:3-4

Would you call them back to earth again?

Would you wish them back--back from the presence of the Lamb? 

Back from the sweets of glory--to the bitterness of time?

Back from those rivers of pure pleasure which flow at God's right hand--to the muddied streams in this valley of sorrow? 

After they have reached the haven of rest--would you recall them to struggle again with the storms of life?

Could you be so selfish--and so cruel? 

"They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights!" Psalm 36:8

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!" Psalm 16:11

  ~  ~  ~  ~  

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Yes it is my birthday today! I love my birthday! I can go all day and do whatever I like, not do whatever I don't like, and do it all guilt-free! It has been a GREAT birthday already! Thanks for the KINDLE mom! I love it! I've already downloaded 35 books...most of them free since I love the unpopular antiquated type!! Love it! Nope I'm not tellin how old I am! LOL!

The Fourth!!!! Was 4 days long for us!

Do you think 'Bri Bri' had enough bottle rockets? 4000!

WE had a fantastic 4th with friends! It lasted 4 days! Thanks for the great time Pelis family!

Pray without ceasing...

The Bible instructs us to "Pray without ceasing", (1Thess. 5:17), and to "Present our supplications..."(Phil 4:6). But do you ever find that your prayers are more like QUESTIONS?? No, I don't mean 'questioning' God, why He does and chooses certain things (for HIS glory and our good), but I find that I pray "Lord what should she do?", or "Where should he go?" I question how to pray for my family, friends and brothers and sister in Christ. I certainly do not know what is best for the brethren, but trust that the Lord does. Looking forward to that Great Day when we have the mind of Christ and question no more.