In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

I can't help but share about God on a morning like this. Before I headed out for my walk, I was reading in the One Year Chronological Bible about Solomon's temple in the Old Testament. It was so elaborate and magnificent. I don't think we can even imagine the splendor. Yet Jesus said in Matthew 6:28-30, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Wow. He is so good.

Then, look what I got to see this morning! Just before the sunrise, this beautiful smoky mountain view:

And then I turned a corner and BAM! An amazing sun rising over the hills:

"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fulness; 

The world and all those who dwell therein." -Psalm 24:1

I've talked about this a little bit before, but I really feel like God was leading me away from my usual gym routine so that He could show me Himself in the mornings like this. He speaks to me on our walks and it is glorious. I would have missed out on those talks, and seeing His awesome handiwork in the skies each morning, if I had stuck with the same ol' routine. His ways are so much better than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Every time I follow where He leads, it is so much more and better and higher and sweeter than anything I was doing before. "He leads me beside the still waters; He restores my soul." -Psalm 23:2-3

Monday night I was invited to hear Trisha Gunn speak at River Tree Church. If I understand correctly, she wrote the LIFE (Living in Freedom Everyday) Bible study out of Birmingham's Church of the Highlands. What a wonderful message. On the way to hear her speak, my friend Christie and I saw this rainbow:

Again God reminded me through His beauty, of His faithfulness and love, grace and mercy, that is so different from human love. His love never fails.  "'My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you."-Isaiah 54:10. We were led in some great worship and then when Trisha Gunn spoke, she reminded us again of His love. That our sins are removed, and God's wrath is satisfied completely, because of the cross. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."-Jeremiah 31:34. Why do we act like God has a human love for us? He is not fickle. He doesn't get mad at us, and then wait for us to make it up to Him before He will talk to us again. When we think like that, we deny the power of the cross. We say in essence, "What Jesus did on the cross is not enough; I must also do -----." God is good. He is not like us at all. I'm so thankful for that.

I heard on the radio yesterday that a device is being created to allow people to control their dreams. Somehow, as a person reaches REM sleep, they can tell their minds through this device, what to dream. So if you wanted to dream you were a millionaire, you could. If you wanted to dream you were dating a supermodel, you could. The discussion on the radio was interesting. One guy said, "I think it's dangerous. If I had that device, all I would want to do is sleep, so that I could dream I was in some other life and somehow make my real life go away." I was rocked to the core by that statement. How sad are we as a people? We have already created devices and games that do this sort of thing, by the way. All these video games where you can "create" your "character" and "be" someone else, with some fantasy life. It's SICK if you ask me. Why do we want so badly to escape life???? In real life, God really is still good. No, it's not always beautiful. Every day isn't sunrises and rainbows. I know that, trust me. But even on the "bad" days, God is doing something glorious in us. He is making us more like Himself. If we try to escape our real lives, we never allow God to mold us and shape us and make us beautiful, which He does through our circumstances, good and bad. To escape is to die. To escape is to suffocate our lives until they are nothing. I don't want to escape. Even when life is ugly. Because I truly believe that when life is its ugliest, it is about to be at its best.

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.' Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!'"-Jeremiah 18:1-6.

Parenting, Julie Style

If there is one thing I have learned since becoming a parent, it's that I am certainly NOT an expert. I mean so many days I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Or I realize what I should be doing, and it's so far from what I am currently doing. But, there are a few things I've learned in the last eleven years of parenting. There is something to be said for experience. Also I am trained to be an elementary school teacher. And my Momma thinks I'm pretty smart. So.

:)

Here are some things I have come to believe about parenting. Take it or leave it.

1) Long before I became a parent, I was a keen observer. Some may say nosy people watcher but whatever. :) I particularly noticed interactions between parents and their children. What I noticed was this: children deserve our attention. Our undivided, uninterrupted attention, when we can afford to give it to them. I noticed parents who were always yelling at their children, or acting like they were total nuisances, or rolling their eyes and acting put out with them pretty much all the time. The thing I noticed was that these people were trying to do something else that they felt was more "important" and when the child had the audacity to need some attention, the parent was completely annoyed. This makes me cringe. Yes I do it sometimes and when I do I make myself cringe. On the other hand, I noticed parents who were just busy being parents and not getting constantly distracted with "more important" stuff, like checking Facebook or texting friends. These parents seemed to enjoy their children so much more. When their children spoke, or sang, or cried, or whatever it was they did, the parent wasn't put out because interacting with that child was their focus. Those children are so much more well behaved. And the parents seem to enjoy being parents. Children are important. What they have to say is important. They need their parents' eye contact, listening ears, and attention. I know there are times we all have to adult things that have nothing to do with our children, like pay bills or have an adult conversation. And children should learn that at those times they are not the center of the universe for a little while. But that should be the exception and not the rule. Or your children will feel that they are unimportant and will act out until they get your attention. You can bet on it. Just watch people for awhile like I did. :) Now. I am not perfect on this one. I get distracted with dinner and laundry and phone conversations and Facebook too. But I try to be aware that those things are secondary to my relationship with my children. I try to include them in as many chores as I can. And I try to limit my Facebook and phone time. Right now being a parent is my number one goal. One day they will be old and I can catch up on all those things. Two of the wisest words I've heard regarding parenting were from Bill Cosby. He said, "When dealing with a child, keep your wits about you and sit on the floor." Wise advice. Sit on the floor, at their level. Not up in your easy chair, out of reach. The other thing he said was, "Parenting isn't hard. It's trying to do anything else while parenting that's hard." True that. So if it can wait, let it wait. Do the parenting. Look them in the eye and really listen.

2) I believe that children need sunshine and fresh air as much as flowers do to grow. I could write a book on this one but that pretty much sums it up. Give children time outside every possible day that you can. Take walks, go to a park, sit outside for breakfast, whatever. The fresh air feels good. It promotes activity and curiosity. I just really believe it's good for them. I include "unstructured outdoor play" in our daily schedule every day. Sometimes we even go outside if it's raining and let them play in the puddles. We plant things, we dig for worms, we swing, we hula hoop, we Slip N Slide. George Washington Carver said, "People murder a child when they tell it to keep out of the dirt. In dirt is life." Well said, Mr. Carver. Invest in some bubbles, sidewalk chalk, tricycles, maybe a sandbox, a magnifying glass for looking closely at things like worms and flowers.

3) When possible, choose reading a book over watching TV. I know this one is a no-brainer, but there is so much to be said for reading aloud to your children. The educational benefits, the quality time together are so much better than anything the television offers. I am not anti-TV. We watch Sesame Street. We like Baby Signing Times. But when I can, I choose reading books instead of turning on the TV. And the children like it better. They would rather sit on Mommy's lap with a good book than watch any movie. Usually I'm looking for a babysitter when I turn the TV on. That's usually a good indication I've got my priorities out of order. I need to take a deep breath, then choose a good book, sit on the floor, and start reading. They stop what they're doing and sit down to listen. Fill your house with books. Especially children's poetry books. You can borrow up to 30 items at a time from the public library for free. And all the libraries in Huntsville have a bookstore with 10-cent and 25-cent children's books.

4) I don't remember who told me this, but I heard a long time ago to put cranky kids in water. It will instantly lift their spirits. So, what do I do when my kids are having a meltdown? If possible, I put them in water. Usually the bathtub. They love that. In the summertime, we turn on the hose or get out the Slip N Slide. It turns everybody's frowns upside down. Blowing bubbles also helps. And making tents.
It's awesome if you can give them some finger paints. Just put down an old sheet, a roll of butcher paper, and let them have at it. It really does clean up pretty easy. And it equals happy kids. Then make a big deal about whatever they paint. Hang their artwork all over the house. Making them feel special is so much more important than having stuffy artwork that looks like everybody else's house on the inside. Make your home an original display of your children's best art.

5) It's a fact that children's mental capacities and personalities are pretty much set by age 6. From birth to age 6 is the best time to spark their creativity, encourage wonderment and imagination, and challenge them mentally. Sadly, a lot of us don't start trying to "educate" our children until after that all-important time. Maybe I'm just a preschool teacher at heart, but I love that age. Children are like sponges, always learning and soaking up what they learn. I believe it's during these years that we need to give their education all we've got. One of the best things we've done recently was grow a butterfly house. We order some baby caterpillars online at www.insectlore.com, then watched them grow from larva, to caterpillar, then live inside the cocoon, then burst forth into a butterfly. It was fascinating. So much more engaging than just reading a book or coloring a worksheet on the life cycle. I don't think they will ever forget it. I'm hoping this year we will also have an ant farm, a worm habitat, maybe an aquarium and hopefully some chickens. These things are priceless. They don't have to be able to read or write to learn in this way.

6) I personally don't think kids should have their own room or get new clothes or be given a phone at 13. That's just me and I realize there are lots of good, valid reasons that people do the things they do. But I want my children to learn to share, to be conservative with their money, and to communicate face to face. I have been around teenagers who didn't know anyone else was around. They were in their own world, texting and video gaming. Lord help me not to let that be my kids. I want my children to notice other people around them and care enough to engage them. I want them to help their brothers and sisters and love them enough to say, "You go first." That doesn't come naturally to a child, it has to be taught. I want to give my children everything they want and more, but I have learned that if I really love them sometimes I will tell them "no" and know that it's for their own good.

Ta Da!! There you have it. Julie's Parenting Tips. Thanks for listening to my two cents' worth. :)

Mother's Day

In all my rantings last week about grocery shopping and disappointment, I failed to mention some of the blessings that were everywhere. Blessings always are, you know- everywhere- we just have to have our eyes on right to see them. On Monday, out of the blue, my oldest daughter Allie set a card table in our bedroom with a beautiful tablecloth, candles, and rose petals for my husband and me to enjoy our dinner. She made up a menu- Restaurante Romantica- with choices like "water" or "wateretica" if you wanted extra romance. :) She served us downstairs, while she and a neighbor helped feed the children upstairs. We had a little mini-date right there in our own home on a regular Monday night. It was lovely. Friday night was date night at church, a night when we get super-cheap babysitting services for a few hours. We were sitting in the beautiful Big Spring Park downtown, noticing one man on his laptop in one spot and another man playing a guitar in another spot. The man on the guitar started playing, "You Make Everything Glorious", a praise song by David Crowder Band. The man on the laptop looked up and smiled, and said, "Thank you for playing that. I love hearing praise music." The guy on his laptop was studying his Bible. I think he was a pastor preparing a sermon for Sunday morning. He was black. The guy playing the guitar was white. It was just really neat to be in the middle of our beautiful city on a Friday night and see things like that going on. God is everywhere. He is mending relationships, redeeming the lost, truly making all things glorious. On our way home after picking the kids up from church, we got to pull over and watch a colorful fireworks show happening at Joe Davis stadium. Oh how I love fireworks. They just seem to shout "Hope". It was a great way to end the week. With hope.

My sweet family has also worked hard to make today special for me. They went out last night and got me some decaf coffee from Angel's Island, because so often I want just a cup of coffee after dinner but I don't usually have any decaf on hand. Everybody except Sam made me a card :), and Allie painted me a picture of Penelope on canvas. They also bought some local art at Angel's for me to enjoy. They truly know what I like. Today they have been cleaning the kitchen while I rest. Brian is taking care of Samuel while I blog. My cup runneth over, for real. :)

I love Mother's Day because I believe that the position of motherhood is so undervalued in our society, and I'm thankful there is a day to celebrate it for the honorable thing that it is. A mother who seeks God in raising her children and who strives to teach them His ways is so rare you almost never see it. I'm fortunate to know some of the few surviving women like this, and I want to encourage it with all that I am. Motherhood is a pretty big deal. The quality of generations to come will be determined by the quality of today's mothers. We can't afford to take this task lightly. We need to celebrate mothers, support them, honor them, pray for them to work diligently and with perseverance. If you no longer have children in your home, make it your aim to come alongside a younger mother and support her in Biblical womanhood. Praise her for her faithfulness to the Lord. Encourage her to press on to know the Lord's high calling for her life. Remind her that what she is doing is important. Love on her and embrace her in true Titus 2 fashion. Mothering is hard. Sometimes all a young mother needs to hear is, "You're doing great. Keep it up!" I've been blessed this week to be on the receiving end of some of that encouragement, and hopefully I have passed a little on as well. A dear mother friend of seven and I met together to pray over our children and families while walking and enjoying the sunshine with our kids. She sent me a sweet card in the mail later in the week to encourage me. Another beautiful friend of mine popped in one day with a bag of spa goodies and uplifting card to love on me and lift my spirits. I prayed that God would be true to His promise to "refresh those who refresh others", and asked Him to bless my friends. Then I took that encouragement I had received and sought to pass it along to fainthearted mothers I knew. I believe that's what it's all about. Just passing it along, spurring one another on to love and good deeds. The Bible instructs us to encourage one another daily. Mother's Day gives us a great excuse to follow that command.

Happy Mother's Day, you precious dear mothers. A promise from God's Word that has renewed my strength so many times is one that is particularly for those with children. In Deuteronomy 33, right after God blessed the tribe of Asher with children, He promised, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." God has promised that with the blessing of children, comes the strength to handle each day. He does not give the strength and ability before the baby arrives, but when this blessing comes from Heaven, He also sends His daily strength. What a promise!

Being Julie

Yesterday was a terrible day. I started my period after being a few days late and getting my hopes up that maybe God was blessing us with another child. I know, I know. I don't need to hear, "But you are already so blessed with five; just be content with that" or "It will happen in God's perfect time" or anything else like that. I already know and believe all those things. I really don't need a pep talk about all that. I'm just saying that it was a disappointment and it clouded my entire day. Period. (no pun intended. HA! See, I'm feeling better already. :))

As the cloud of disappointment hovered over me, I tried to muddle through the piles of dirty laundry before me, while dealing with runny noses and pukey kids (guess we had a stomach bug?) without losing my cool. I want to be the positive, smiling mother that I usually am with little or no effort. Seriously, I'm pretty much a happy person. I can almost always find the silver lining with ease. My glass is half full and I usually do see rainbows and sunflowers in every setting. I love life. So I get angry with myself when I can't just put on my big girl panties and get over something. But yesterday it was the menu planning that had me paralyzed. Literally, paralyzed. Menu planning/grocery shopping is my least favorite task in the entire world of motherhood. For a number of reasons. First and foremost, the foods I want to eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner are completely opposite of the foods my children want to eat at those meals. I want grilled chicken salad and fruit. They want mac n cheese with chicken nuggets. I like expensive chick food. They like cheap food with absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever. Ah, the rub. Secondly, menu planning takes time I just don't have. Third, grocery shopping with five littles in tow is extremely stressful. If you see a young mother leaving the supermarket with all her children still alive, GIVE HER A MEDAL OF HONOR. SHE HAS EARNED IT.

Anyway, by the time we picked Brian up from work to get Allie to violin class, I was a mess. I cried about starting my period, about having to feed picky little mouths three times a day without thanks or praise, about being down and wanting so badly to be up. And he just listened. He didn't try to fix it. Good man.

Today is going to be a better day, I can feel it. We are facing the mountain called Grocery Shopping and we are climbing it. I hope to see someone, anyone, at the finish line, waiting to adorn me with my medal of honor. :)

Outback America

Brian and I just got back from an Outback America weekend. It's this really amazing ministry for married couples or parents and teenagers to get away in the middle of nowhere and work on their relationships with God and with each other. I doubt I can do any justice to explaining just how awesome God is and how much He is at work in this ministry but I will at least try to tell you what He showed me over the weekend.

When we got to Outback, the leaders took our car keys and drove our cars out of sight, along with our cell phones and all electronic devices. We had no access to the outside world from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. The location was this beautiful cove surrounded on all sides by mountains. No A/C and only six showers for about 300 people. Everyone slept in tents.

I came to the weekend seeking God and expecting to hear from Him. There were some very specific things I wanted clear direction on. I wanted for Him to reveal to me His plans and purposes for my life and what I was supposed to do next. What God showed me first was that I need to let go of the details and the specifics and just follow Him. I asked one of the leaders to pray that God would show Brian and me what He wanted us to do, and the leader prayed that God would give us patience. :) That was a clear sign from God that He was saying, "Wait for Me. I will show you in My perfect time." A peace came over me already on Friday night, that I could let go of my impatient desire for specifics at this point and just enjoy being with Him. It rained a DOWNPOUR when we first went into our tent. The sound was loud and beautiful. I kept hearing in my head the song that goes, "Let it rain, let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven!" I felt that God was doing just that.

On Saturday, the married couples were told to load up on buses to go to an unspecified destination for lunch. So, we loaded into the bus and immediately started guessing where we were going. The Mexican restaurant in Scottsboro? Top Of the River in Guntersville? Every place we could think of sounded pretty good because we were hungry. :) We kept on driving and kept on guessing. After almost an hour, we pulled up to this multi-million dollar lake house. I mean, I cannot describe the beauty. One of the most amazing homes I have ever been inside, set on a GORGEOUS lake, on a perfectly sunny, breezy day. Wow. My immediate thought was, This is so much more, and so much better, and so much grander, than I had imagined we were going to. I didn't even guess anything nearly this phenomenal! I knew God was showing me that when I trust Him, He leads me to a place that is far better and way more wonderful than I could have imagined on my own. The house was owned by one of the founders of Outback America. They fed us delicious food and allowed us to rest and relax. Brian and I played basketball together, which was probably one of my favorite events of the weekend. I love recreation with my man in the outdoors. We attended a marriage session with a really sweet couple who taught us how to pray together and how to have a Smokin' Hot Marriage. :) It was my favorite part of the weekend.

On Sunday, our small group leaders gave us the direction to spend three whole minutes face to face with our spouse, hands on each other's shoulders, looking into each other's eyes. We couldn't talk or look away from each other, we just had to look at each other. That exercise was so cool. We both teared up just looking at each other. Then we had to tell each other one reason why we loved the other. I cannot imagine a more wonderful thing that anyone has ever said to me. Brian said, "I love you because your heart is so big your body can't hold it." Wow. I will never forget those words.

After that exercise, our leaders handed us packets and told us to read the contents. I expected some more Bible study materials, which would have been great too. Instead there were letters inside from my Dad, my Grandmother June, my sister, my group leader, and two other leaders at Outback. I cried in overwhelming gratitude to my good and gracious God as I read their sweet words. God had been talking to me about family relationships, and this solidified what He had been saying. I know He is in the process of healing broken places and completely redeeming relationships. He is so good.

On the way home, Brian was telling me that he was reminded over the weekend of just what a mighty, powerful God we serve. I would say if I could sum up what I learned all weekend in one way, it would be just that: WE SERVE A MIGHTY GOD. He is mighty, and He is awesome, and He is able. And that is really all that matters. It doesn't matter what details I am entrenched in right now. What matters is HIM and His greatness. I don't have to be awesome because I wasn't made to be awesome. I was made to serve an awesome God. HE is awesome. I don't have to be perfect because I wasn't made to be worshiped. HE is the One to worship with our whole hearts. The rest is details.

Going off the Grid

I'm pretty sure I'm not using the right term when I say that we are going off the grid, but I like the way it sounds. :) In fact I'm pretty sure going off the grid is something the Amish do and we really have no clue about. I will feel like we have gone off the grid this week though, as our cable and Internet access at home are turned off in the wake of all this downsizing/simplifying stuff. Good thing we will be out of town. :)

My closet is looking pretty bare after getting rid of half of it, then loaning out a bunch of maternity clothes. Most of my wardrobe of late consisted of maternity clothes! :) Our list of bills is looking bare as well after getting rid of the YMCA membership, cable and internet, and pest control. Hopefully we will enjoy saving the $200/month and I will enjoy having fewer clothes to have to sift through to find something to wear in the mornings. :)

I'm still not sure of the big picture behind all this, I'm just obeying God one day at a time as He directs me in the little things. The "stuff" is getting really easy to let go of. It doesn't have much emotional significance to me. It's actually quite a blessing to give things away. I'm even getting used to life without the gym. But now God is getting me down to the real nitty-gritty of letting go of the bigger stuff- the emotional stuff I'm holding onto with such a tight grip my knuckles are white- my plans of how I think life is supposed to go.

I was reading through the Bible Story book to the kids at breakfast this morning, and we came to the one where Jesus talks to Peter after He has been resurrected. He asks Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" Each time Peter reassures Him that he does. This version pictures Jesus right there at the lake, pointing to the boats and nets and fish that Peter knows, and asking, "Do you love Me more than all of this?" I actually choked up as I was reading it to the children. I acted like I just got choked on something. :) But it hit me hard. I felt like He was asking me the same question right now in my life. "How much do you love Me Julie?" He says in His Word that if we love Him, we will obey His commands. We are to love Him more than anything- more than our plans, more than our homes, more than our children, more even than our flesh. Maybe part of this process of letting go is to show me all the stuff that I'm loving more than Him. That stuff that hurts to let go of? Has to go. The Bible also promises that if we try to hold onto our lives we will lose them, but it is in giving up our lives that we find them. Every time I find myself trying to hold onto something or control it or manipulate keeping it, I have begun to literally hold up my hands to heaven and say, "It's Yours, Lord. Take it."

Bro. Jimmy's sermon on Sunday reminded us that there is no resurrection without first a death. He said that God's pattern in our lives is always death, resurrection; death, resurrection; death, resurrection. I know that with everything He puts to death in my life, there is a resurrection of something better.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!" 1 Peter 1:3

Experiencing God

I'm doing the Bible study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby in the mornings right now. 4:45 a.m. comes early, but it's seriously the only time I can get in Bible study and a possible walk before all the little ones arise. Every day it is totally worth it. God meets me and it is beautiful.

I'm learning to listen for His voice. It is steady, and gentle, and reassuring. He is speaking to me a lot through His Word and through random circumstances in my life. He always speaks to me personally through nature and music. It's interesting, Allie and I were recently studying genetics in her Anatomy course, about how children get traits from both their parents. I think God speaks to my Daddy through nature and my Momma through music. Neat how they both speak to me. :) Anyway, that is why walking in the early mornings with my praise music is such an experience. All of creation seems to say, "Praise God!" and display His beauty and majesty. Look at the sunrise I saw today at the top of this hill:

This morning I heard "Wonderful Merciful Savior".
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men? Oh, You rescue the souls of men!


Next I heard "How Deep the Father's Love For Us".
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure!
How deep the pain of searing loss,
The Father turned His face away!
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.


I mean, how can you not praise God after that??? :)

I also had a really neat affirmation of God's sovereign work in my life the other day. I was reading this book to my children:

It is a perfect Bible story book for young ones age 3-6 years old. Beautiful artwork, short stories with lots of questions to keep them interested. I still remember this image from when it was first read to me as a child and think of it every time I read this story in the Bible:

Anyway, after reading a few selections with Maggie, I turned to the front cover and saw this note:

How cool is that?!?! My best friend Liz Ann Wright and her mother Martha gave me that book on my fourth birthday. Fourth! I couldn't even read yet! And God was already providing a book for me to read to my children that He knew I would have. Isn't that the coolest thing? No one knew on my fourth birthday that I would have lots of children and want to read the Bible to them. But God knew. And He was providing for me even then. Such an awesome affirmation that God was working in my life even before I trusted in Him. I was already experiencing God. He is good!

Walking

Walking with God is such an adventure. If you're not walking with God, He invites you to start today. Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances. Life with Him is so fulfilling and exciting. I cannot imagine my life without Him.

If you've been reading, you know that lately God has led me to a place of complete surrender and obedience. You know, the place I should be all the time. :) The more I surrender to Him, the more I see that His way is so much better than my own. He's been teaching me so much about Himself, about me, about His ways. I just had to share.

First of all, He asked me to surrender the gym to Him. That was probably the hardest one, the one I was holding onto the tightest. I wasn't sure why He was asking me to do it, I just knew that He was. So first I stopped doing boot camp. Then we canceled our membership altogether. Whoa. That was huge. I've had a gym membership somewhere since I was sixteen. That's seventeen years I've gone to the gym! What will I do with myself now? Will I become lazy? Soft? Overweight? The fears have plagued me. But day by day, He has given me other opportunities for exercise. Over the weekend we took three very long family walks. Pushing a double stroller for five miles is no walk in the park! The time with my family, talking and seeing sunsets together has been so nice. More positive, less demanding on our schedule, less stressful for my body. Then, we have a wonderful young neighbor who loves our children and has been available to come over early in the mornings and let me go for walks/runs while it's still cool. The change has been staggering. Instead of the focus being on myself and how strong I am and how fast I can run, I've been focusing on worshiping Him. There's a great station on Pandora called Hymns 4 Worship that I've been listening to. This morning I heard "How Great Thou Art", "He Leadeth Me" (my new favorite!), "Be Thou My Vision" and "Blessed Be The Name of the Lord". I got to see the sunrise, smell the spring smells of lilacs in bloom, and praise God for His creation all while getting some exercise. What a difference! I can't imagine that same experience in the smelly, sweaty gym. Look what I've been missing! Can't you just feel God beckoning you forward?

 How wonderful that He chooses to give us dogwoods and lilacs and tulips and azaleas! And sunrises! Every single day, another sunrise! What must heaven be like?

 Me walking this thing out with Him.

I recently used a Living Social deal to see a chiropractor for the first time. I had been having some headaches that seemed to originate in my lower neck area and turn to migraines. He took some x-rays that revealed that I have two discs at the base of my neck that are fused together, providing no shock absorption. The rest of my neck is doing extra work to hold up my heavy head :), and when I run, those discs are just pounding. Aha. This could be one of the many reasons God is calling me to a slower, less demanding workout routine. Also the fact that it draws me into closer relationships with my family and worship time with Him. :)

At this same time, by no coincidence I'm sure :), we've been going through the book of Galatians in Sunday school and I've been doing Experiencing God at home. It's all going together with my reading through the Bible chronologically in the mornings. It's amazing how God chooses themes and then reveals Himself in so many ways along that same theme. It's all about letting go of what I think I want or need (my fleshly desires- even the ones that are "good")- and surrendering to whatever He wants. It's about knowing that whatever God has for me is so much better than what I could even think to ask for. It's really not even about me. It's about Him. Which made me kind of huffy at first. What? It's not even a tiny bit about me? No. I mean, sort of. It's about what HE can do through me. But beyond that, it's really not about me at all. This is kind of the direction it's taken in my prayer life for example:

Step 1: Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and You already know what I desire. But let me put it out there again and remind You. I really want to sell our house and go live in that log cabin on ten beautiful acres. I want to live out there and fill that house up with more and more children. Overflowing with children! Let me be pregnant this very month Lord! And keep blessing AMP please Lord!

Step 2: Heavenly Father, I surrender my plans to You. You know that I want those things, but if you want us to stay in this house, I know Your will is better than mine. I give the house situation to You. You know that I want more children, but if five is all you give me, you have already been so good and I praise You. I will be content with whatever You give. I ask you to bless AMP but even if You don't, I will praise You. Your ways are so much higher than my ways. I surrender it all to You Lord.

Step 3: It's not even about me Father. I praise You for who You are. You are Alpha and Omega. You are sovereign, you reign over all. You are great and You are good. Praise You. Any blessings You choose to bestow on me will just be icing on the cake because YOU are enough.

The Experiencing God study is teaching me that my job is to adjust my life to what HE wants to accomplish rather than asking Him to adjust His activity to my plans. "I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." -John 15:5. God is always at work in and around me. He is always revealing Himself and His ways. It's my job to stay in tune to what He is doing and focus on following His lead. The rest will take care of itself. "Seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well." -Matthew 6:33.

Sometimes God speaks to me through other people. I was talking to Brian the other night about what God is teaching me, and he urged me to journal it and write it all down. The next day in my EG Bible study, Dr. Blackaby said, "When God speaks to you, it is important to write down what He says." Later that day, my friend Leah was telling me that she had learned to do "listening prayers", where she just listens instead of talks, then writes down everything she feels God is saying to her. She said that every time she does, it's so beautiful she should frame it! That God really does speak when we listen long enough! Since three different sources were telling me to write, I decided to write. :) I KNOW He said:
1) Keep teaching your children at home, 2) Keep simplifying and giving stuff away, 3) Love and adore that man of yours, 4) Love on your friends, 5) Don't go to the gym during this season, 6) Get down to one closet (check! Just did! Got rid of half my clothes!), 7) Keep only 4 pairs of shoes (check!), 8) Keep meeting with Me in the mornings, 9) Surrender all your hopes, dreams and plans to Me, 10) Chill out and watch Me work in your life. Number 10 was a real clear one the other day. I was stressing about something to Brian, and he said, "You need to let go and let God." (i.e., CHILL OUT.) Brian's biggest pet peeve is worry. He is allergic to worry. :) The next morning in my quiet time, God showed me a contrast between Psalm 143 and Psalm 23. I love Psalm 143 and often pray it aloud. At least, I have been praying parts of it. I had been praying verses 8-10: "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your spirit is good; Lead me in the land of uprightness." Good prayer. But that morning I read the whole chapter and saw that David was saying, "The enemy has persecuted my soul. . . He has made me dwell in darkness. . . . Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. . . " Wow. I had been using the word "overwhelmed" a lot lately. I recognized that the enemy was persecuting my soul with worry and causing me to dwell in darkness. I thought of Psalm 23 and how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads us not to places of darkness or persecution or overwhelming anxiety, but to green grass and still waters. In fact He makes us to lie down in green grass. That doesn't sound like anything active. We just lay in the green grass and enjoy being taken care of by the Good Shepherd. I thought of "Be still, and know that I am God." I have heard a different translation say, "Cease striving, and know that I am God." (i.e., CHILL OUT. Where have I heard that before. . .?? :)) So, I am chilling out. God's plans are wonderful. And if I follow Him day by day in obedience, I will be in the center of those plans and life will be good. In this house or the log cabin. With five children or twelve. In abundance or lack.

My walk today ended with "In Christ Alone". "No guilt in life, no fear in death; this is the power of CHRIST IN ME. From life's first cry til final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand. Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand."

Learning to Discern the Still, Small Voice

Wow. So, since deciding to actively listen for the voice of God in my everyday life, I've realized He talks to me all the time. I'm pretty sure He has been trying to communicate with me for my whole life, but when I'm tuned in and listening it's like wow, He has a lot to say about every detail of my life. :) He really does care about the details. And He wants absolute surrender and obedience in every one of those details.

I've been dealing with one "big" detail for awhile: boot camp. Or more accurately, my relationship with the gym. I've been working out with weights, running and doing aerobics for nearly 18 years. I love it. I love challenging myself physically, I love sweating a lot (I know, I'm weird :)), I love being fit and running faster and pushing myself harder and upping my weights and giving a little bit more when I think I don't have anything left to give. So I've seriously been enjoying boot camp the last six months. Boot camp is a very hard core workout with a personal trainer at the Y. In six months of boot camp, I've lost 8 lbs and 4% body fat. I've gone from working out with 8 lb dumb bells to using 15 pounders, and from doing all my pushups (we typically do 100 each time) on my knees, to doing all 100 on my toes. Yes, I actually enjoy the torture. :) But God has been asking me some tough questions about boot camp. Why are you working so hard to stay the size you were in high school? Why do you have to be the fittest person at boot camp? Why do you want the recognition for being in good shape? As I've realized the answers are pride, pride, and more pride, I've wrestled with whether or not I should even be doing it. For months I've rationalized it. Surely God doesn't want me to be out of shape, I've reasoned. The Proverbs 31 woman has strong arms, I've read it in my Bible! Isn't it just godly stewardship to keep my body strong? A month or so ago, I was sprinting at boot camp while my children were in the childcare and Allie was working on her math in the lobby area. I literally saw Jesus' face in my mind. He was smiling at me, and with a little laughter in His voice, He said, "What are you doing here, Julie? Where are your children? I've given you a task: go do it! Why are you carrying around those weights and running so fast like you're sixteen? Go be a Momma!" Like I said, He had a smile and was totally non-condemning. But I knew what He was saying. So I stayed home from boot camp a couple of times, but just went right back shortly after. Finally last weekend, I couldn't stand the tug on my conscience anymore. Okay Jesus, I surrender boot camp to you, I said. I'm not working out again until You give me the go ahead. I know You are trying to teach me something here. I'm listening. I'm available. Teach me, Lord. Your servant is listening. And that is the place I am still in regarding boot camp. Last week wasn't as rough as I thought it would be. Already I am seeing that we are enjoying our mornings a lot more, getting a lot more done, and stressing a lot less without having to rush out the door to get to boot camp in time in the mornings. God is blessing me with peace. Every day I am asking Him to teach me the lesson so I can get on with it. :) Somehow I think this one may take a little more time. . . working out for me has been an idol in so many ways. Not just the obvious one, where it's my identity. It has also served as a mood lifter and stress reducer and release. God wants to be all of those things for me. He is showing me that HE can lift me up and relieve my stress and that I can run to Him when I need reassurance of my worth.

Then, I have heard a few seemingly random promptings from Him lately. He's asking me to declutter and simplify. When I first heard Him say that we should get rid of half our stuff, I thought, yeah, that's right, the kids have way too much stuff. But then He said, "I'm talking about your stuff too, child." Oh. You mean my clothes? "Yes." Literally, I've been told to condense my closet to less than half of what it is right now. And today He said, "Four pairs of shoes. Just four. That's it." REALLY? FOUR?? . . . uh, okay Lord. I'll do it.  I think He's getting ready to do something awesome in our lives. We've put our house on the market in the hopes of downsizing. Yes, you read that right. Downsizing. Yes, we are still hoping that our family will grow larger. And yet we are looking at smaller houses than the one we are in now. We've found that it really doesn't take that much square footage to raise children- at least not inside the house. I don't believe that children have to have their own rooms and I'm finding that they don't need all that many toys. Each of my children is happiest when they are in my lap, being read a book. They each zero in on two or three toys or gadgets and ignore the rest. We just don't need this much stuff. So we are slowly getting rid of stuff we don't use and paring down to the necessities so we can be ready to move into a tiny house. We found a perfect tiny little house- a log cabin, actually- on TEN ACRES of land that's a ridiculously low price because it's a foreclosure. I've fallen in love. I could just totally see us there. We could have a huge garden, and chickens, even cows. I could sell milk and eggs. I SO want to live there. I've given it to God and keep giving it back to Him every time I try to take it into my own hands, but I really want this tiny little house out in the middle of nowhere. :) It's motivation for me to keep on this simplifying project because I know we can't take all the stuff in our current house to the log cabin with us. I told Brian we will feel like those people who moved out west and could only take with them what would fit into their wagons. :)

God has put faithfulness on my mind. His faithfulness, and the faithfulness He expects from us. "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." -1 Corinthians 4:2. I am a steward of so many things. I've been asking myself, what does faithfulness look like in my stewardship of this and that and those? What is my "acceptable service" (Hebrews 12:28) in each of these areas? I was reading an article about faithfulness in homeschooling recently and wrote this quote from it in my journal to remember: "Simple faithfulness in a God-given calling- no matter how small or how big- elevates the mundane to the holy. Our flesh says, 'I'm tired of doing this.' Faithfulness says, 'This is what God has given me to do, and I'm going to do it whether I feel like it or not.'" I love that. Also, on Wednesday night Bro. Greg said, "Do what you do, that the name of the Lord may be hallowed." Wow. How can I homeschool in a way that hallows the name of the Lord? How can I reach out to my friends in a way that hallows the name of the Lord? How can I hallow His name in my church, my community, in everything I do?

He has also put obedience constantly on my mind. That's really what He wants. Obedience to the commands that are obvious in black and white in my Bible. Obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that I can't see or touch but I know in my heart are Him. Obedience when I feel like it and when I don't. When I understand it and when I don't. Obey, obey, obey. God said through the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament (Samuel is now one of my favorite people in the Bible :)) that obedience is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. Jesus said in the book of John that we are His disciples if we abide in His Word and obey. Deuteronomy 28 lays out a long list of rewards for obedience and consequences for disobedience. I don't know about you, but I want to have the favor of God. I want to live the abundant, full life that is open to blessing. I don't want to just survive or just do the status quo. I want to really live. God says that way to that life is through obedience. One-step-at-a-time obedience. Even-when-I-think-I-need-more-than-four-shoes obedience. Even-when-I-really-miss-boot-camp obedience. I believe God will show up and bless me with His presence and His fullness so much more when I am walking in step-by-step obedience to Him. It is a place where I may be out of shape and wearing old worn-out shoes, but it will be a place of blessing indeed. :)

More Thoughts on Surrender, Or, My Life is a Series of Object Lessons :)

My life has become a series of object lessons from God.

This morning I got a text from a near and dear friend whom I love, asking me to pray because she might be having a miscarriage. I was brought back to my own miscarriage and the lessons God was teaching me through it. Basically I had thought I was just a super fertile, baby-making machine and had developed a little bit of pride (surprise!) over it. Until the day I was 12 weeks pregnant and began to bleed. We went to the doctor to see the baby we had seen at 8 weeks, still there, only this time with no heartbeat. We were devastated. God taught me the lesson that changed my whole mind about having babies. I realized that day that GOD is in control of my fertility and that I will only have as many babies as He allows me to have, when He allows me to have them. HIS number of children, on HIS timeline. I am powerless. I cannot make a baby anymore than I can hang the moon. We surrendered our family planning to the Lord that day, and I am still reminding myself that if He wants us to have five, we will only have five. If He gives us ten, we will have ten. When He gives them to us, how He gives them to us. I cannot assume that because I have been blessed with fertility this far, that He will continue blessing me indefinitely. It's all up to Him.

I was praying for my friend and wishing so much I could hug her, when Maggie shouted, "OUCH!!!!!!! Momma this thing is on my belly and it HURTS!!!" I went to check it out and there, right where her pants touch below her belly button, was a TICK. He was burrowing himself deep into my baby's body. I kind of freaked. I tried calling my Daddy, who is a veterinarian and knows about things like ticks, but he didn't answer. I called my sweet husband, who told me to remain calm and get the matches. REMAIN CALM AND GET THE MATCHES?? Are you kidding me??? I said never mind, we are all getting in the car and coming to you to get this tick out. Brian calmly reminded me that if we didn't get the tick out, she could die. Yeah. That was a great thought. Hey don't worry about it or anything, but she could die. I got everybody in the car as quickly as I could and started praying. Hard. Lord, I know I just told You this weekend that I was going to hold my children loosely. I know I just surrendered them to You because I love them so much they can become idols if I'm not careful. But come on! Are you really going to take my baby?? And a TICK??? COME ON!!!! Of course, we got to Brian's office, he fearlessly and wondrously did his thing with the matches (okay so Brian can totally become an idol too if I'm not careful. I do tend to think he's awesome. :)), and my baby was saved from the tick. She happily ate her M & Ms as a treat for being brave. When Penelope said she wished she could get a tick so she could have some M & Ms, Maggie let her know in no uncertain terms that a tick was NOT worth a couple of M & Ms. :)

We were driving home, when Penelope said, "Honk the horn Momma! I want to hear it! Honk it!" Since we were driving down the Parkway, I explained to Penelope that you couldn't just honk the horn anytime you wanted. Honking the horn is fine if you have to, and cars need to have a horn for emergencies, but you can't just honk the horn whenever. It affects other people around you when you honk your horn. God said, "Just like the horn, you can't just do what you want either. You can't just honk your horn just because it's not 'wrong' or because there are times when it's okay. It affects other people. There are times to honk your horn and times to be quiet." Hmmmm. I could really apply this one to so many things.

I was still determined to go to the Y and work out this morning, although God had spoken to me about that too recently. I went home and got everybody's clothes for the Y since Samuel was the only one I had dressed completely before rushing out to Brian's office. I got my workout clothes and everybody's clothes except Samuels'. We headed to the YMCA, I changed everybody's clothes in the car, got everybody except Samuel out of the car. I reached in to get Samuel and. . . poo poo got all over my arm. He had pooped all through his diaper, it was spilling out of his clothes and had even seeped into the crevices of the seatbelt. Yes that kind of poop. And I didnt' have any clothes for him. Okay Lord I get it. We're not going to the Y today. I loaded everybody back into the car and came home, taking the hint that today just wasn't the day for working out.

Yes, my life has become a series of object lessons. . .

What God is teaching me

God is teaching me so much so fast right now. I love these periods of growth and am so thankful for them. I feel like He's making up for lost time. Like, "Okay, you weren't ready to hear this last month, so let me show you this now. . . oh, and while I'm at it, there was something six months ago you refused to hear, but now that you're listening, here's this too. . . wait a minute, you still need some work over here. . . oh, and this thing has got to go already! You've been dealing with this for years!! Time to let it go too!" It makes me think that maybe He's always speaking to me, I'm just not always listening. I have a lot of catching up to do when I really start listening to His voice.

I've been listening attentively for the last few months. Getting up in the dark with Him in the wee small hours in the morning to meet for coffee and a chat. Reading through the Bible. Studying and memorizing the book of James. Attending a homeschool mom's retreat and asking Him to meet me there. I feel like I'm on a chase, always seeking to see Him and hear from Him because I'm so desperately in need of His Presence. He is so faithful to meet me wherever I am. I can always tell when it's Him I'm hearing from, because there is no condemnation in His voice, just love and a desire for me to be holier than I am. He wants to move me and change me, but not in a legalistic or binding sort of way, in a freeing sort of way. From the inside out.

First He's had to show me what a wreck I am. Seriously. I cannot keep my house clean. I cannot stay on a schedule. I cannot figure out if the curriculum we are using is good or if my children need a change. I cannot make them succeed. Or listen. Or be nice to each other. Or eat their vegetables. I can't even get them to obey me sometimes! I'm a wreck! I'm not a good listener. I am slow to listen, quick to speak. I want my way. I am forgetful. I want to be liked. I want to look good and be admired. Pretty much if there is a flaw, I own it. And that all bothers me because of my pride. I wish I was really awesome. He is showing me that HE is the only awesome One. Any awesomeness I might have, comes from Him. I am a mess apart from Him. I should boast about my flaws instead of trying to hide them and act like I'm great. Oh wait, that sounds familiar. . . "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12: 9-10.


He is revealing some idols in my life. I don't think of myself as a control freak, but I am. I have gotten an idea in my head of how large our family is going to be, and what started out as a beautiful vision from the Lord about what He could do in our home has turned into a restless, unquenchable idol. It started out as a good thing- giving control of our family's size over to the Lord. That is a wonderful thing. But when I start to take back the control and try to tell God that we need three more, or five more, and we need them now, then I am no longer serving God but seeking to have Him serve me. It's all about relinquishing control. It's all about surrender. I said yes to the call of God to homeschool my children. It started out as a God thing. But then so quickly it became about me being a great teacher and them being involved in the best programs and having the best curriculum. Their educational success cannot be about me or even about them. It has to be about God. If it's not about HIM, it has no worth. If it doesn't point them to HIM, it is a failure. It all comes down to believing in the marrow of my bones, that whatever He has planned is so much better than whatever I have planned. That HIS way really is the only way.

So, He has me on this journey of surrender. He's asking me to surrender things to Him one by one that I didn't realize I was holding onto so tightly and trying to control. There are a few beautiful passages He showed me this weekend in His Word that I am clinging to. One is Job 22:23-26. It says that when I assign my gold to the dust, (my gold being anything I am loving more than Him), then the Almighty Himself will be my gold and my precious silver, and then I will delight in Him. I love that. Isaiah 58:13-14 says that when I get my plans and my desires, myself, out of the way, then I will find my joy in the Lord. Another great verse is Psalm 62:5, "My soul, wait patiently for God alone, for my expectation is in Him." I read that verse early in my homeschooling and was reminded that my expectations must be in HIM, not in my children or my husband or even myself. Again, it's all about HIM. Expecting HIM to show up and be the Hero. Feeding on His faithfulness and remembering Who He is. One of the session leaders, Missy, said something that stuck with me: "Don't teach your children 2 + 2 = 4 if they are having a problem with lying. You stop teaching that math and deal with that character issue. God will make sure they know 2 + 2." Wow. How many times do I get so caught up in teaching 2 + 2 while there is a glaring character issue that needs to be addressed. And why? Because I want my kids to be geniuses. But what good is a genius who doesn't love Jesus? Why am I doing this anyway? To point them to Jesus. To produce lovers of Jesus, not geniuses. Again: It's ALL ABOUT HIM.

I'm learning that my response to Him has to be obedience. Complete, immediate, joyful obedience. So many times in His Word He says that that is how I am to show my love for Him- by obeying Him. He asked Peter three times if he really loved Him. Each time Peter said yes, Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep." That passage really speaks to me because I believe that's the reason He has me at home educating my children in this season: to feed His sheep on His Word. I have to remember that a successful day is one in which I have fed the sheep He gave me on the pure milk of His Word. That's it. Not a day in which everyone completed four math pages or helped clean their rooms or got along. A day in which we delighted in His Word.

So here I am, just chasing after Him and waiting to watch Him move. It's a beautiful place to be. . .

"My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning." -Psalm 130:6

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him." -Lamentations 3:25

"Here am I and the children the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion." -Isaiah 8:18

Discipline

Discipline is no fun. And if you know me at all, I shy away from things that aren't fun. I want everything to be celebratory and momentous and cheerful and exhilirating. Most people have to remind themselves to "stop and smell the roses", but I have to remind myself to get my nose out of the roses already and stay on the road. I recognize this about myself and while it can be a good thing (I tend to be more of a Mary than a Martha), it can be a terrible thing (when you realize you aren't obeying God's Word). Ouch.

This week has seemed to have the theme of discipline written all over it. When you homeschool, you get to see every nook and cranny of your children's hearts- the good, the bad, and the ugly parts. And you are forced to deal with them one way or another. Deal with them with discipline and, as God's Word says, "Correct your son and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul" (Prov. 29:17). Deal with them by ignoring them and letting them grow, and there is no rest or delight to your soul. Or to anyone else's soul in the house. I've been asking God for wisdom daily for quite awhile now, and He seems to be pointing out all these character issues in my children that I didn't see clearly before, and demanding that I deal with them. For their own good as well as mine. These issues that seem small now, will be to their great detriment as adults if left undisciplined. Making excuses for poor work, blaming others for their problems, disobedient hearts only get uglier and messier with time. God has reminded me that "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." (Prov. 29:15).

Not by accident I'm sure, we arrived at the section of Hebrews on Wednesday that is about God's discipline toward us. I am so thankful that God saved this passage for this week in my life. I realized that I have greatly misunderstood it. I always thought it was only about the type of discipline where we are paying consequences for sins we've committed- which of course, can be part of discipline as well. But Bro. Greg pointed out that the word used there for discipline is the type of training and admonition parents are constantly doing to help their children grow. Which changed the whole perspective for me. It's about God's setting of boundaries and rules to help us in the sanctification process. Like our children, we have character issues that have to be dealt with. Rough edges that need to be smoothed out; things that need to be perfected to be more like Him. The thing that makes His discipline toward me so much better than mine toward my children, is that He is completely sovereign over it. He knows me inside and out and is never blinded toward any of my shortcomings. He knows everything about me. He knows exactly what I need in my life to become better. And He allows those things ALWAYS for my own good. In fact, He disciplines because HE loves me and cares so much about me becoming like His Son. Unlike my discipline of my children, His is never in a fit of rage, is always wise, and is perfectly measured. Like parents, His goal is to make me better. Hebrews 12:10-11 says that He disciplines me that I may share in His holiness, and that if I will submit to it and allow myself to be trained by it, I will reap a harvest of righteousness. This makes it all worth it.

I've been reading through the Old Testament and I'm in Exodus right now. Over and over again, God says, "I am the Lord!" and "Then you will know that I am the Lord!" He has to remind His people that He is in charge. He is the Lord. And over and over again, there are blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. I noticed a cycle in the Bible: Failure to obey God's Word always leads to enslavement.  But obeying Him always leads to freedom and victory. May I remember this as I read His Word and as I discipline my children: we can live in obedience and be free, or we can live in disobedience and bring shame, disgrace, even enslavement.

Rodgers University

This week is the kind of week that I particularly love at Rodgers University. The kind of week where we are doing tons of learning while we are living, not just set aside time at the desk memorizing math facts and conjugating verbs. Oh, those things are important too. And believe me, we do a lot of those types of things. Most of our "school hours" are spent doing things like math and language. But weeks like this one are particularly enjoyable for homeschooling because we just learn about what we are doing, as we are living. I could go on for days about why I love homeschooling my children, but this week it is because of the freedom we have- in how we learn, what we learn, where we learn, and who we learn from.

Monday evening, we had a young lady from our church over for dinner to tell us all about her recent mission trips to Africa. Laura Kay, I discovered, is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She fit right in with the Rodgers family, playing with and reading to the girls, sitting on the floor of their room under their tent. She showed us where Togo and Tanzania are on the globe. She showed us pictures of the people of Togo and their homes. She brought beverages from Africa for us to sample. And, the girls' favorite part- she brought a baby doll and a piece of fabric for the girls to "wear" their babies like they do in Togo. Each girl "wore" the baby for awhile and played Mommy. What fun!! They all loved Laura Kay so much. They want to have her over again soon!

We spent the day buying groceries and cooking for the meal; coming up with questions to ask our missionary; discussing what the Bible says about hospitality. Lots of learning involved. I count it for Social Studies, Bible and Home Ec at the very least. :)

Tuesday, my mother came and took Allie and Maggie to her house for school for the day. I've asked the Lord for fresh ideas and vision in our homeschooling, and one day not long ago while I was in the shower, He put the idea in my head to get my amazing Mom involved. She is a retired elementary Music and Art teacher. She was like the most talented, creative, caring teacher that ever lived. She has a degree in Piano Performance and a Master's in Music Education. So I knew it would be a good thing for them to learn these subjects from her. They are going to spend one day a month with Grandmomma for as long as it continues to work for all parties :), learning from her and getting to know her better. The first day was fabulous. They could not stop talking about it when they got home Tuesday night! You can read all about their school day here

On Wednesday, Allie and I began to incorporate a new study into our Anatomy course called Vintage Remedies for Tweens. You can read more about it here. I met the author of the book and founder of Vintage Remedies at a Blessingway for my friend Elizabeth Dunne. She is Elizabeth's sister! I immediately fell in love with her and wanted to read all her books. I'm currently reading The Vintage Remedies Guide to Real Food as well. Anyway, Allie eagerly started into this study to complement her study of nutrition in our Apologia Anatomy course this year. There are lots of cooking projects in the kitchen, so it will help her get her Kitchen Scientist badge for American Heritage Girls as well. I love it when things come together!

Today we had some time together to write out our goals for the remainder of her fifth grade year and set a timeline for accomplishing them. She also ran a mile with me for P.E., read some of Robinson Crusoe, and made recycled paper at AHG. I'd say it was another good day of unconventional learning.

I thank God for the opportunity to be my children's teacher. He has given me an awesome responsibility that I don't take lightly. I ask Him every day for wisdom and insight into each child's world. I don't often talk about homeschooling on here because I know that not everyone chooses to do it, and that's okay. But I love so many things about it. The fact that we can go at our own pace; learn in whatever style suits each child best; take time away from the "regular" subjects once in awhile to learn something totally different. I love that I can educate the "whole" child. As their parent, I can see what they need to do physically, emotionally, spiritually, and academically and plan to work with it throughout the day. Each moment is a learning opportunity. As we go about our days, conversations come up randomly in which we discuss ideas and learn from each other. When we don't know something, we look it up. When we need to ask an expert, we ask an expert. God has enriched our lives with so many wonderful people to learn from. There really is never a dull moment around here.

Hebrews 12:1-2

We are finally up to the 12th chapter of Hebrews in our study of that book in prayer meeting on Wednesday nights. Hooray! I have always loved the word picture painted here of runners in a race. I've been a runner for almost 20 years now. I haven't won any races- I've come in dead last in a few :), but never come close to winning any. I'm not a fast runner at all. I prefer the longer distances, slower paces. Although a marathon scares me and I've shied away from ever attempting one, I am thinking that one day a half marathon might be in the cards for me. A half marathon in which my only goal is to finish, not beat any world records. :)

Here's what Hebrews 12:1-2 says:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."

The Hebrews 12 series is titled, "Success in the Christian Life". Bro. Greg defined success in our walk with God as "staying faithful to the Lord wherever you are, with whatever you have, in whatever you face." Success is enduring to the very end; finishing well. Success in the Christian life is not defined by how many classes in theology you have completed, or how many books you have written, or how famous your sermons or songs are. It is simply being faithful to God in the particular race that is set before you. Each one of us has a race set before us. Our courses look different but they all have some hills, some tough spots along the way. Our goal is to stay faithful and keep running to the finish line.

The "great cloud of witnesses" is all the Christians who have gone before us and faithfully endured to the end. Some have endured persecution, hardship, trials, even martyrdom. The word picture is actually not one of people cheering us on from a distance in the stands, as I've always imagined, but of them actually running alongside us, reminding us "If we can do it, you can do it!" I love that.

What specifics does the Bible give us for continuing the race and enduring to the end? Three things: 1) Laying aside every weight- we can't keep running and moving forward if we are weighed down. Runners only wear what is absolutely necessary in a marathon and don't carry any heavy loads- would get too tired and wear out and eventually quit. Likewise, weights we carry aren't necessarily "bad" things when in their place, but they are the things that become too important and throw us off balance so they become too "weighty" of a priority in our lives. We have to lay these aside. Bro. Greg didn't mention this, but I also have to think that since Jesus talks about giving Him our burdens, about His yoke being easy and His burden being light, that when we are walking in His will we won't be weighed down. If we are feeling over-stressed and weighed down, we need to identify what it is that is weighing us down and cast it off. This can be a number of things- guilt, anxiety, fear, anger, unforgiveness. Or as Bro. Greg said, it could be something good in itself that has just become too much of a priority. I need to ask myself "Is this thing helping me become the person God wants me to be? Is it bringing me closer to God?" 2) Laying aside the sin that clings so closely (or so easily entangles). This suggests a sin that is "close by", or as some people say, a besetting sin. Some area of personal weakness or chink in our armor that needs to be kept in check. We can't run the race with endurance if we have this clinging to us. 3) "Looking unto Jesus. . . " Instead of telling us to watch out for potholes, or worry about the hills ahead, or wave to the bystanders, the Word says to literally "fix our gaze upon Jesus" or intentionally focus on Him. I think of Peter walking on water. When his eyes were fixed on Jesus, He was safe. When he looked at the waves, he started to drown. Jesus is our example for how to live the Christian life. There are four Gospels so we have good blueprints for how to live.

". . . the Author and Finisher of our faith. . . " Hebrews 2:10 also called Jesus the "Captain of our salvation". He is the Beginner, Initiator, Leader and Example of our faith. He is also the One who finished it- "It is finished", He said as He breathed His last breath. Our salvation begins and ends with Jesus. He determines the course and its length for each of us.

". . . Who, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of God." In the ultimate endurance test, Jesus finished well. He is our example. "The joy that was set before Him" is our same joy. It helps so much when you can see the finish line. Jesus has already told us what is ahead and it will be worth it all.

Wow! Talk about the ultimate Locker Room Pep Talk! I love this type of language. It's so encouraging. Reminds me of one of my FAVORITE movie scenes of all time. The Death Crawl from Facing the Giants. Watch it now. And DO NOT QUIT!!!

Liberty and Justice For All

I've had liberty and justice, and what the Bible says about it, on my mind lately. I know God is all for freedom. He states in His Word that He came to set the captives free and rescue us from bondage. He was passionate about delivering the Israelites from bondage in the Old Testament and He is passionate about setting you and me free from bondage in the New Testament. His Truth makes us free. The Gospel makes us free.

Which is why Satan loves bondage and slavery and injustice in every sort imaginable.  From literal slavery, which I believe He calls us as Christians to stand against and fight, to the slavery in our minds that keeps us from walking in the Spirit. As Christian women it is hard not to find ourselves bound to another's "rules" about the choices we should be making. Satan loves for us to look for rule books so we can feel like we're living a "good Christian life", pat ourselves on the back and miss out on a life-changing walk with the living God. The scary thing about walking in the Spirit is that the way God calls you to flesh things out may look slightly different than the way God calls me to flesh things out. So we may be frowned upon by those who would like to put rules on us that don't fit what God is leading us to. But Paul tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. I believe a good paraphrase of Galatians is "Love God and do what you want." If you are truly loving God, loving His Word, loving the things of God, you can't go wrong. There's a lot of space in there for our individual bents and personalities. Psalms says that He fashions our hearts individually. I love that don't you? :)

Anyway, speaking of the literal slavery, it's one of the things I'm educating myself on at the moment. I'm praying about how God wants me to get involved in His command to "Seek justice; rebuke the oppressor." (Isaiah 1:16).

Change #2: Healthier Choices

Remember those frozen meals called "Healthy Choice"? Or "Lean Cuisine"? Yeah. Turns out I wasted a lot of time and money on those, thinking I was actually being healthy. I should have gone for the juicy grilled burger and waffle fries I was actually wanting because I'm realizing in adulthood that that was actually the truly healthy choice. :)

Some of you know I've been watching some really great documentaries on Netflix about food and making wise eating choices. I am learning so much! It's actually changing the way I view food. After watching Food Inc., I couldn't eat meat for an entire week. Not that I was trying intentionally not to eat meat, I just couldn't do it. We had just bought a bunch of meat at Sam's, and I just knew Sam's wasn't the place to buy truly good-for-you meat. Then came the day when my friend Linda made a tub of chicken salad for our family. She cured me of the vegetarian course in which I was headed. :) I am finding that I'm still not eating a lot of meat. It's just that I've gotten choosy about the meat I feed my family, and the good stuff is definitely not as easy to find as the questionable stuff. So we're eating a lot of quinoa, bean soup, vegetables and fruit. It's actually pretty great to see them actually enjoying snacking on apples, oranges and bananas instead of Cheezits. Really! Their typical days include kefir, greek yogurt, clementines, bananas, carrots and apples. They don't even seem to miss the junk.

We've also gone cold turkey on juice. We had to. Even with buying the V8 Splash, which has fruits and vegetables in it, they were consuming tons of extra sugar and not eating full meals because of it. We've started doing whole milk and water, with an occasional half OJ/half water mixed in. They only complained once or twice in the beginning but have adapted well to the change. I'm interested to see if there will be a change in Penelope's activity level with cutting back so much on sugar. Also our grocery bill will be reduced considerably without having to buy juice. I bet we spent $75/month on juice! With what we're saving, maybe we can purchase some of the better choices.

I'm reading "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan, which just has a lot of good common sense about food. And awesome illustrations! You should see this book, it's beautiful!! I love to just look at it. :) Anyway, one that stuck with me is "The fewer the feet, the better the meat." That is easy to remember. We ate fish tonight. I think we can incorporate fish into at least one dinner a week. And fish sticks don't count. :)

We've cut out white bread, any snack food with the word "Cheez" (misspelled) in it, juice, and sugary cereals. It's a start! I've been making whole wheat bread for awhile but I"m going to step it up so we have it on hand all the time. And we just got some kefir grains for making kefir. It's amazing for you and the kids like kefir smoothies with raspberries.

Then I watched the documentary "Food Matters". WOW! Makes perfect sense. Most of our sicknesses and illnesses could be cured simply with better nutrition. Centuries ago people knew this. Most other countries still know it. But doctors in America have been trained now for decades to treat the symptoms with medication instead of encouraging patients to try vitamins, herbs, and a better diet. The pharmaceutical companies are a racket if you ask me. It's sad. I'm glad there are documentaries like this to remind people that there is a simpler way. God created plants and herbs and vegetables back in the Garden of Eden for man to enjoy and thrive nutritionally. He's such a common sense God! He cares about our bodies and our health! Watch the documentary. They explain the enzyme situation way better than I can. Basically, the more cooked and far away from its original state your food is, the fewer life-giving enzymes it contains. We eat a lot of dead food that doesn't do anything for us. But the more raw foods- the ones still exactly as God made them- we eat, the easier our body can process it. Your immune system is activated every time you eat dead food and energy is spent to fight the "foreign objects". This uses up the enzymes your body has naturally. If you don't replace those enzymes with good food, you eventually get low and your body doesn't work as efficiently. Thus, we get sick. This great lady on the show talks about how sickness is sickness, no matter what you call it, and if you work with your body instead of against it, it will heal itself. Giving it lots of good food is the key. God intended it that way and it is crucial to optimal health. Good nutrition just lets your body do what God created it to do, well. In a nutshell. :)

I hear the argument, "I grew up on PBJs and Kool Aid, and I'm fine." And yes, we are all "fine". It wasn't wrong for us to have those things. It's not 'wrong" for our children to enjoy them occasionally either. But as a mother planning meals for my children, if I can clearly see that there are "good" choices, "better" choices, and "best" choices, which should I choose? Faced with the facts, I think the only thing I can do in good conscience is offer them the very best choices possible every chance I get. I'm sure we'll still hit Chick Fil A every once in awhile.

The goal laid out in Food Matters is for every meal to be 51% raw. That is the most efficient for your body. Today I made the goal at breakfast and lunch. Dinner we had tilapia, wheat berries, and steamed veggies. Not bad, but not 51% raw. Oh well. It's a goal. I'm okay with having goals I don't meet 100%. But as someone once said, "Shoot for the moon and you might at least land among the stars" or something like that. I like that. Might as well try for the best than just settle, right?

What 2012 is already teaching me

I wanted to start this year the same way I started 2011- with a "one little word" by which I was going to sort of theme my year. The word for 2011 was "fruitful". I loved it. It totally suited 2011 for me, so it felt like just the right word. I thought of so many words as 2012 began, but just couldn't find one that fit. Some things I wrote in my journal as I was brainstorming. . .

Filled. "He fills all things." -Ephesians 4:10; ". . . that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. . . "-Ephesians 4:13; "And of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace." -John 1:16

New. "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19 "Mediocrity is not God's plan for your life." -Jimmy Jackson

Awakened. "Awake, you who sleep; Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." -Ephesians 5:14. "I sleep, but my heart is awake. . . "-Song of Solomon 5:2. "My heart is overflowing with a good theme." -Psalm 45:1

I have a whole page where I talk about the things I'm passionate about. I want to empower others, inspire, enrich, nourish, feed. I want to create and grow and strengthen and uplift and cheer. I love the word doula and all that it means. My life will never be the same after meeting my friend and doula Jessica, who cheered me on during the birth of my son. She strengthened me and told me I was able. She reassured me when I was about to quit. She will always be inscribed on my heart for the amazing doula help she was to me that day. I want to do that in a figurative sense for the women God has placed in my life. I'm passionate about that. I'm inspired by the words of Henry C. Blinn, "Begin today! No matter how feeble the light, let it shine as best it may. The world may need just that quality of light which you have." And the words of Anne Frank, "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Lord show me how I can improve my world and the world of those around me, today.

I've been reading through the Bible. So far I've gotten through Genesis 26. That first book of the Bible is so rich. So full. I've asked God to open my eyes to something new in the Scriptures every day. And He has been faithful to do it! Things I've never seen before, or am now seeing in a new light. When reading through the lives of Abraham and Isaac, a few themes just kept popping up: they pitched tents; they dug wells; they set up altars. 1) They pitched tents- God told Abraham to leave all that was familiar and go to a country he had never seen before. Abraham obeyed, and the rest of his life he moved around wherever God told him to go, pitching tents here and there. He didn't lay down roots. He didn't hold tightly to the things of the world, but pitched a tent so he could be ready at a moment's notice to obey God. How many of us could do that, literally or figuratively? 2) They dug wells- Abraham dug wells in the desert to provide water for his family in a dry, parched wilderness. Digging a well is hard work. How much of what I do is the hard, dirty work of digging a well, but will actually give life and health and wholeness to my family in the desert of life? Gives me new perspective. Hagar was out of water in the middle of the desert with her son Ishmael and God heard her cry. He "opened her eyes" to see a well of water He had provided for her and her son. I asked God to open my eyes to the wells of water He is providing in the desert for me. Finally, after Abraham died, the Philistines came along and poured dirt into many of Abraham's wells. His son Isaac came back and rebuilt the wells and renamed them the names that his father had given them. He took back what the enemy had stolen. Sometimes we have to do that. 3) They set up altars and praised God. They consulted Him before making a move. They honored Him above all. Their tents they could pack up and leave, but the altars were built and were a high priority. Pretty cool. . .

Another thing about those wells that Isaac rebuilt. . . he had some trouble as he was trying to lay claim to a space with a well for settling his family down. Every time he dug a well, someone would come along and claim that it was theirs. Finally he dug a well over which there was no dispute. He named it Rehoboth, meaning, "open space", saying, "At last the Lord has provided us enough space to prosper in this land." I was thinking. . . God has already given you and me enough space to prosper in this land. "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." -Psalm 16:6. "You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide space." -Psalm 31:7. We have all that we need to prosper in the land He placed us in. In ALL things we are MORE than conquerors. We have enough space, enough provision, to be filled and new and awakened in this year. Lord grant us that we dwell in this land and prosper.

Happy Joy Germ Day!

Thanks to Aunt Laura and the book Every Day a Holiday, we were able to celebrate Drinking Straw Patented Day earlier in the week with straw races and chocolate milk. :) Today we celebrated Joy Germ Day, which is actually Sunday, but we wanted to start a little early. :) The concept is that you spread joy all day long like a germ. When I asked the girls this morning what we could do to spread the joy, Maggie said, "With a smile!" I thought that was pretty profound. Smiling is the easiest, most affordable and effective way to spread joy to others. So we've been smiling at everyone we see. :) Luckily today was also crazy beautiful outside- 67 sunny degrees- so we spent a lot of time outside. We had a picnic in the front yard, after which the girls entertained Sam and me with an impromptu circus. Here's my beautiful Allie doing the tightrope:

She and I both LOVE spring-like days we sometimes enjoy here in Alabama in January. :)

God has been blessing Brian with lots of new work this week. He always provides! He has been so good to us! We got the weekly groceries tonight, and went on a special family dinner to 88 Buffet. Our children LOVE Chinese buffets. They eat lots! We definitely get our money's worth! While we were eating, we had two different people come up to us and tell us how beautiful our children were. One lady actually commented that my children were extremely well-behaved! Whew! What a relief to hear. God knew I needed that boost today. Some days I wonder if our tedious, laborious work with our children is paying off at all. Thank the Lord, we spread a little joy at the Chinese restaurant. And got some joy in return from total strangers.

In honor of Joy Germ Day, I'm hoping to add a playlist with a few songs that make me extremely happy. If you don't like music, you can turn it off. Otherwise, enjoy!!

2012 Reads

We really love reading at our house. We have bookshelves in pretty much every room- the dining room, playroom, bedrooms, and classroom. And we need a few more because I can't stop purchasing books! :) Especially when you can get quality children's books at the Friends of the Library bookstore for 25 cents! I mean come on! :) It wasn't really a conscious choice at first. We had some books around, we read them to the children, they really loved it. In fact, they loved being read to more than playing with toys. We decided to go to the library every week and let them each pick out a few books. Mainly because I love the library and wanted to go! It just kind of went from there. Now they all "read"- even Rosemary! Sam is the only one who isn't reading yet, but he does try to grab the book I'm reading and tear it to shreds.

We've also developed a love for poetry. There are zillions of good children's poetry books at the library! Several months ago we got one that came with a CD of Julie Andrews reading the poems aloud. The kids were familiar with the voice of "Mary Poppins" so that was one of their very favorites. She read one called "The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven" that they still quote and laugh about. They wondered aloud at Thanksgiving if the turkey would indeed, shoot out of the oven. :) Some others we've come to love are "Maggie and Milly and Molly and May" by E.E. Cummings; "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out" by Shel Silverstein; and "Keep A Poem In Your Pocket". Some rhyming books we've also enjoyed recently are I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie and A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes. The illustrations are spectacular. Our favorite illustrators are probably Jan Brett and Steven Kellogg. They both show such detail. Pretty much you could understand the story just from the pictures, even if you couldn't read. Which helps the little ones who want so badly to tell the story but can't quite read yet.

Allie and I have two classics we're reading together aloud in the afternoons this semester: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I remember in my classes in elementary education at Athens State, and in all the parenting books I've read, that the #1 absolute MOST important thing a parent can do with their children to develop their cognitive abilities and reading skills is to read aloud to them. It has become vitally important to me, and an integral part of all our days. My hope is that our children will have fond memories of reading at home with Mommy and will carry a love of reading on for the rest of their lives. I read these poems recently that really struck me:

The Reading Mother by Strickland W. Gillian

I had a mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,

“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a mother who read me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days; 

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a mother who read me tales

Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a mother who read me the things 

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-

Stories that stir with an upward touch,

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold; 

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold,

Richer than I you can never be-

I had a mother who read to me.

When Mother Reads Aloud - Unknown

When mother reads aloud, the past

Seems real as every day;

I hear the tramp of armies vast,

I see the spears and lances cast,

I join the thrilling fray;

Brave knights and ladies fair and proud

I meet when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, far lands

Seem very near and true;

I cross the desert’s gleaming sands,

Or hunt the jungle’s prowling bands,

Or sail the ocean blue.

Far heights, whose peaks the cloud mists shroud,

I scale, when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, I long

For noble deeds to do-

To help the right, redress the wrong;

It seems to easy to be strong,

So simple to be true.

Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd

My eyes, when Mother reads aloud.

As for me, I have several books I'm reading this year. As you can see, I prefer non-fiction when you get into the adult section anyway. :) Here's my list of 2012 reads:

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

Vintage Remedies by Jessie Hawkins

Playful Learning by Mariah Bruehl

Just Too Busy: Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical by Joanne Kraft

The complete Charlotte Mason Homeschooling series

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Grace For the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman

the book with 365 daily celebrations/holidays

and, I'm reading through the Bible in a One Year Chronological NLT Bible. 

So, I'm interested. . . . what good books are you reading this year, and why? Is reading important to you? Why or why not? 

Happy Reading!