Nov 30, 2011

52-46

So, I'm a few weeks behind.  No surprise there.  I feel like I'm always a few weeks behind!  Anyway.  Pictures.  Of my kids.    Here they are. Filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Which Stella loved.  And I loved that she loved it!  I told her it would go to a little girl who wouldn't get a Christmas present and they would tell her about Jesus.  She was pleased about that.

Nov 28, 2011

Tea Wallets for Aunt Sue





Sue Faulkner, this is for you.  This is the easiest way I know to get you several pictures!  Here are the tea Wallets that I have.

Nov 12, 2011

Project 52 Week 45

It's so hard to believe that we are in the middle of November already!  This has been a really fun way to track the year!

Nov 11, 2011

Tea Wallets

I've been making Tea Wallets.  They're really cute and useful.  I am selling them for $6.00 each (plus shipping, if applicable).  Here are some pictures of what they look like.   The lighting isn't great on some of them, but  you get the idea!
 This is all of them
What they look like inside.

What they look liked closed.



clockwise from top left: pink and brown, pink and blue, blue floral and cream, green and pink, navy blue and green, green and white


Comment or email if you want one!  I will also be making more,  let me know if there are combinations you want to see!

The Hand that rocks the cradle... Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about how Audrey Saint came and spoke at my Mom's group about grounding our families in the Word.  I also left it hanging about the most important part!  That came right at the end.  Audrey looked at us and said, I'm going to be radical here.  Then she suggested that we make a plan to have our children read through the whole Bible twice before they graduate from High School.  She suggested that the first time be from (roughly) ages 2 to 12 and then again from 12-18.

I love this idea.  It's new for me.  It is radical.  But, I think I'm ok with radical.  Especially if it's radical for Jesus.  I want my kids to be familiar with the Word of God.  I want them to have parts memorized. 

And, she wasn't totally saying that this is something that has to be done all at home.  Certainly it can be.  And it should be something that is encouraged at home.  But we were encouraged to keep a finger on what they were reading and learning in Sunday School and youth group.  Count that!  But the other part of this idea is being responsible for my children's spiritual training.  It is MY job.  Well, mine and Sid's, to make sure that Bruce and Stella are grounded, and rooted in faith.  Sunday school should be a supplement to what we are teaching at home, not the other way around. 

Audrey shared a sobering statistic.  Fewer than 1/20th of all Christian Families worship as a family outside of church. (Barna)  Wow.  That's less than 5 in 100.  And we're not really part of that 5.   Hmmp.Guess I better get on that. 

She talked about how opening the Bible begins a discussion.  Issues will come up during that time.  Questions, things that ae happening in their lives come out and are able to be discussed openly.  These times of conversation around the Word of God will produce fruit.  That's something I want! 

So, again.  What am I going to do?  Well, I'm gonna sit down with Sid and make a plan to get our kids through the Bible before they graduate.  I'm gonna sit down with Sid and see if we can figure out a good time to sit down and study the Bible together with the kids, at least 2x a week. 

I'm so thankful for the Godly women who are in my life, who challenge and encourage me.  Thanks, Audrey, for being faithful to share Godly principles and wisdom with us!

Nov 10, 2011

The hand that rocks the cradle...

Rules the world.  -- Napoleon Bonaparte

The name of the Young Mothers Group at my church is called Garlands of Grace.  There is a verse, but I'm not sure of the reference.  Anyway, we had a speaker come and talk to us last week (Nov. 2nd).  Her name is Audrey Saint, and she talked to us about Grounding our families in the Word.  It was excellent.  I've been mulling over some of what she said.

The thing that most stood out to me, that she said several times, was "be jealous for your kids."  I had never thought of it quite like that.  I mean, I knew I didn't want someone else to educate my kids. And I knew that I was primarily responsible for their spiritual development. And I knew a lot of things.  But to be jealous for my kids... that was a new idea for me.  I like it.

I am jealous for my husband. I get that.  I want his time, attention, and affection.  Why shouldn't I also be jealous for my kids?  Why shouldn't I be the one to teach them in the ways of the Lord?  Why shouldn't I be the one to teach them their academics?  I need to be jealous for their time and their hearts.

 She took us to Acts 17:26-27a.  Which says "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him."  We talked about our boundaries and periods.  Our job is to help our children to seek God.  She talked about taking advantage of teachable moments.  I've been trying to do that with more purpose.  To really answer the questions. 

We talked about verses that describe what we want our children to be like.  Psalm 3 talks about a tree planted by a stream.  It grows strong and bears fruit in season. I want that for my kids.  We talked about really being purposeful!  She took us to Deuteronomy 6:6-8, of course.  You know, where it talks about teaching your children God's laws when you sit, stand, walk, lie down.  I knew that.  I love those verses. But one of the things she said was that you can't ground your kids if you aren't first grounded yourself!   Oh, yeah.

I love that we talked about honing your craft.  Audrey said if you had a job you would always be working to better yourself in your field.  Taking courses, or going to seminars, or reading the latest trade magazines.  That sort of thing.  This is no different.  Read books (good ones), and be purposeful.  Don't leave it to chance!

We discussed Bible reading, too.  As in DO IT. At. home.  And Dad too. In front of your kids. And WITH your kids.  From a real Bible.  Those little story books are all well and good, but they need to know that you think it is important enough to share with them from your Bible.    There is more. That, maybe, is the most important part.  But I think that will be a different post, for a different day.     

But to wrap up this enormously long post, What am I going to do with all this info?  Because it's one thing to HEAR good, sound, Biblical advice.  It's another thing altogether to follow it.

I am going to try to be more intentional about answering my kids questions Biblically, and making sure they understand that it's biblical. I am going to surround myself to the best of my ability with like-minded Christians.  I am going to try to make sure that my kids are hearing the Word of God regularly.  From my Bible or Sid's.






Nov 2, 2011

Little Things

that brought me smiles in October:

My kids laughing together... this one will probably always be on  here!
Weddings, and family.
Apple Butter.
Apple pie.
My friends.
sunshine after lots of rain.
coffee.
Halloween.
My red vest.
Sid being home for dinner more!




So pleased to make my list of little things!  Thanks Katie for the inspiration, and the nudge!

Halloween 2011 52-44








Nov 1, 2011

What my neighborhood looks like

After a freak October snow storm dumped 5+ inches of snow on us.
 



And this is just my block!  It's crazy the damage that has been done.