I thought I needed to add a new entry. Luke said a funny last night on the way to church. I just thought I would share it. Short and sweet....
It is 6:45 at night which translates to almost complete darkness since we turned our clocks back. Ella says as we journey down the road in our van, "Oh, look what pretty leaves on the trees." Luke replies rather indignitley,"Ella, you are NOT nocturnal!"
I guess it helps to know Luke is my completly black and white child. Everything is either wrong or right. There is no room for imigination with him. He really doesn't even enjoy reading fiction books, atleast not as much as non-fiction. Ella is my imaginary little girl. She loves to make-believe and pretend it is real! At times she lives in her own little world!
On another occasion Ella was talking to a friend in the van (an inaginary friend). Luke began telling her she did not have a friend in the van and was insistent in it.
LOL Luke sounds like an "engineer." Emily was the same way. When she was in kindergarten the teacher just could not understand why Emily didn't want to play in the "centers." (this included legos, kitchen play and pretend) Emily said that it wasn't real stuff and she didn't want to pretend. LOL My son is the one with an imagination. I just love that they are not all alike! At least most of the time. LOLOL You kids are SO cute!!!!!!!
Hey. I haven't 'answered' my blog comments yet but I wanted to let you know that I requested an invite to you for 'raising girls'...
I don't have any specific book recommendations for girls. My favorite books hands down are the Pearl's stuff (not a favorite with everyone). There is much to be learned from Debi's relationship with their three girls (now all grown, married and calling their mom blessed)...I try to glean from their newsletter and books. I really love them.
I know Vison Forum has a lot of books about raising daughters (specific and included in other books). I have not read any of them, though.
I kow it has been a while since I have posted. I give no excuses. Besides, I just enjoy reading all your blogs! I do have a question to throw out there though. I would like to hear some of your thoughts on the subject. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted , 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
Obviously, God does NOT tempt us but how does He test us without tempting? I know verse 14 has to be the answer but I am curious if any of you have any thoughts on the subject.
He allows us to be tempted by satan. He also gave us free will to choose to serve Him or serve satan. I think that our "tempting" is maybe a part of that "choice" factor! If we did not have free will and choice to do right or wrong, there would be no temptation.
When Dan taught this he used these, which may not answer your particular question.
Temptation = Desire + Opportunity
Sin = Desire + Opportunity + Action
Punishment = Desire + Opportunity + Action + No Forgiveness
About God testing us, are you referring to 1 Thess. 2:4, "But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts." Other versions use this phrase "who tests our motives," "who proveth our hearts".
2 Corinthians 13:5 says "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?" The word also use here is examine which means we are to put your own self under examination, using God's Word, to see if we are true believers.
Also, Hebrews 5:15 says For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." So Jesus was tempted but did not sin hence it is not a sin to be tempted. (see the equations above)
Here is another one I thought of = 1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ"
The testing with fire "burns away" the impurities because God wants His people to be pure and holy as He is.
All this mad this song pop in my head this morning. :)
1. Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long;
While there are others living about us,
Never molested, though in the wrong.
* Refrain:
Farther along we’ll know more about it,
Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
We’ll understand it all by and by.
2. Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer,
Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,
When there are many living in comfort,
Giving no heed to all I can do.
3. Tempted and tried, how often we question
Why we must suffer year after year,
Being accused by those of our loved ones,
E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.
4. Often when death has taken our loved ones,
Leaving our home so lone and so drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper,
Living so wicked year after year.
5. “Faithful till death,” saith our loving Master;
Short is our time to labor and wait;
Then will our toiling seem to be nothing,
When we shall pass the heavenly gate.
6. Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior,
Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;
Then we will meet those gone on before us,
Then we shall know and understand why.
I think Nathan must have been at the Picogna's we only had 4th grade and down and I don't remember a Nathan. Would a dog satisfy your want for another baby, well they are a lot of work like a baby. Trust me I never thought I would have a house dog.
Luke has turned 7 so we have had to sign up with a cover school this year (which means extra $$$-BLAH). I had to attend the manditory 2 hour long kick-off meeeting last night for the cover school we signed up with. I was expecting to find out some information we "had" to know. It ended up being a giant newsletter with this class offered here and that one there. Moms meetings, park days, history fair, field trips, etc-these were all announced and detailed a bit. I can't remember one thing discussed that wasn't already in the monthy newsletter. Needless to say, I felt it a waste of time.
Anyway, the reason for this entry are a few thankful thoughts for a group we have been with for 2 years now. When Luke turned 5 I joined this group of christian homeschoolers from all over north (even some central) Alabama. There was no fee to pay (YEAH!!!) and you just do what you want and when you want with the group. We have field trips, co-op classes taught by the moms, moms meetings, parties, etc... There really is too much to do with this group. We have to pick and choose what seems best for us at the time. As I was listening to all the happenings my new cover school was having, I was thinking how grateful I am that I can do almost all the things mentioned with fellow christians! It really is a great blessing that my children can get their "socialization" with other fellow christian families. That's one of the many reasons we decided to homeschool in the first place (ie, influences). I, as a mom have this wonderful support group in which I can ask advice, seek knowledge, and learn from the many wonderful examples other moms set!
As I was growing up in a very small and rural town, having christian friends was not an option. Once at Auburn with this huge church of christians my age, it was just the most wonderful thing I had known! I am sooo very thankful to the Lord that my children will at least have the opppurtnity to make life long friends that hopefully will share their faith! I do realize those that you think will be good influences can end up for the bad. For that matter my own children could end up being bad influences. It is my hope and prayer that with the Lord's help He will guide Chet and I as we endevour to raise our three children. The little seeds we plant the Lord can give the increase. I am just thankful the Lord has put this good leaven in our lives!
I am always slightly annoyed when I send off nearly $100 to a 'cover' school just to be legal in AL. I loved the law in WI...send a sheet in annually. For Free :). With just names and my signature!
One of the reasons I chose the 'cover' school I did was because I knew it would be way to overwhelming to do HEIRs stuff and 'cover' school stuff...
Hey. Voice is doing good so far. One more time to have it checked. The second check he said it looked better, I could sing, but to avoid abusing it.
If you can get the certification easily--go for it...if I could have done that without a second degree I would have...I really hate having to pay the fee to send in a form. My cover school has no other requirements...just attendence. So I pay nearly $100 for them to send my form to the school district (and because it is the law).
I have a degree from USF, but to get teacher cert in AL, I'd have to do several things...one of which is student teaching. I don't have time for that...so it is not an option.
If you find any loopholes, do let me know! I do know several moms who've set up their own 'cover school' but we can't do that conscientiously...
The monkey was my favorite too. It did turn out to be a really cute cake. It took longer to mix up all the different icing colors than it did to make the animals.
Yes, I am planning to go unless something happens last minute to prevent me from going! I have got to get soem photo's developed so I will have something to work with! I do not know how to get there. I guess I will ask to ride with Deanne or call her for directions. If you are going...see you then!
We went to the GC b/c I have wanted to go for a long time. I thought it would be better to go without the kids. They would have thought it was boring instead of relaxing. LOL We haven't been on too many vacations except the Disney a few times. On our 25th anniversary we went to Niagara Falls but most of my family ( parents, brothers family and ours) decided to "tag" along. LOL It was fun though. This time we decided to go by ourselves for the first time in 30 years. About time, huh?
I was up. She had wanted to feed herself, so I went to put a load of clothes in the washing machine and that is what I found when I came back in the kitchen......my recently CLEANED-UP kitchen!! :)
^^Do you suppose she put that picture in her scrapbook? ha! I'm at Kathy's in Cookeville...we are staying up till early hours scrapbooking...(well, when we are not ORGANIZING!!
Well, several years ago some friends and I went down to the beach by ourselves. Our first grown-up trip, and we were paranoid that some psycho would hear us saying each others names and stalk us, so we came up with fake names for each other. Now it's a big joke about how silly we were! :) Crazy kids!
I have found another block of time to update my blog. However, I am making sure there are no 3 year olds under the desk. As for the cruise.... let's just say we were a little oblivious to "cruise life" (ie, drinking, parting, and gambling). We could stay away from it all so we ended up having a relaxing time. The ocean was was quite humbling. I was put in a state of awe while staring out into the seemingly never-ending ocean! Our God is so BIG. To think...this world is HIS footstool!!!???
Cozumel was beautiful. The sandy white beaches with crystal blue water were just breath taking! We snorkeled on a reef which was my favorite part of the trip. We actually saw a "live" starfish and just absolutly amazing little tropical fish. We rode ATV's along the beaches which was really fun.
It is hard to believe we have been married almost 10 years. I can actually say I love him more today than I did when we got married. Love seems to change the longer you are with someone. It's that agape vs. phileo love. My thoughts are that it will just keep getting better!
We have started school back with a bang. The first of school is always exciting. If we can just keep the zeal and pace we'll be doing great! I have found out I need to stay away from school supply stores and magazines. A big spender I am not considered but I tend to loose my mind when I go into these stores. Just the other day I went into a store to get my absolutely awesome world maps laminated. Within the 5-10 minutes it took the lady to laminate them I ended up with $65.00 worth of stuff. Then I came home and ordered a white board on wheels, which I can't wait to get in (YEAH)! I guess it is a good thing I worked a bit more over the summer.
That brings me to my next news. The reason I was working a little more was to save up for a Disney trip in December. You just cannot know how much I hate to bring the news that we will not be going to Disney this year. My husband just decided 3 years in a row was too much! He did tell me we will try to go next year. I am thinking Jan. 2009??? Is that too much to ask???
Luke is playing soccer this year and Chet is his coach! I was quite proud of him (Chet) at their first practice last night. He did a really great job with those little boys. It will involve a lot of time but I think it will be fun!
I stay away from school supply stores! I never come out empty-handed....I try to do all my shopping for school on the internet. No end-caps of interesting things...no browsing :)
I was in the middle of actually updating my blog. I had a rather lengthy entry when... click my computer just went off. I looked under the desk and there was a little 3 year old-Nic!
