Ponderings In The Field of Grace

When the kids and I looked this morning we realized we have one month and two weeks until our vacation. Then I started looking at everything we have going on until then:

• My parents’ anniversary
• Our anniversary
• A friend’s birthday
• Ministry speaking engagement
• The Professor’s birthday
• Sports Guy’s birthday
• The Knight and my Dad’s birthday (on the same day)

That’s a lot of special things going on. I’m not real sure what we will be doing for anything other than our friend’s birthday, and going to the beach on Sports Guy’s birthday. I’m looking forward to it though. I think it is going to be fun.

I’m tossing around a few ideas of things to do, but nothing definite yet. So we’ll see.

Things seem to be getting better around here lately. A little at a time I see where God is working in areas I/we have been struggling.

In the last few months, I have begun to see an improvement in my kid’s self-control as I have also begun to see an improvement in my own. In the last three weeks I have finally begun to get myself in check. I’m not screaming at my kids nearly as much as I was, and I’m not as sarcastic to them either. Now I will admit I am incredibly ashamed of myself that I let things get like they were.

On the outside everything looked fine. But for the kids and I, we definitely knew different. I have been struggling with my own attitude as I have been watching the kids struggle with these same issues. It was just easier for me to focus on their problems, rather than deal with my own.

We’ve went from barely talking through the day other than telling/being told what to do, all the way to hanging out and talking just for the fun. I’ve spent more one on one time with my kids in the last few weeks than I have in months, and it’s great.

I’ve found out I really enjoy being with my kids. They teach me a lot, and they make me laugh. They’re smart. They’re creative. Most of all though, I love them.

Now hopefully, I can continue to learn as the days go by, and God will continue to teach me how to be the wife and mother He has called me to be…

It’s 12 AM on Friday night, and I am sitting at the computer writing this as I listen in on Transformers playing in my living room. One kid is asleep in the floor, another on the couch, and two are in their beds. The Knight is in his recliner, and I am going back and forth between here and the couch.

We’ve had an evening at home which was nice. But when you consider it is the night before we are having our Sunday School class over for a get together, it is even more impressive. You see in most times past we have spent the night before trying to get the house presentable, and in the process we usually spend the evening fussing at the kids while we clean.

Not tonight.

Tonight we said, heck with it. We’ll do what we can, but it isn’t worth the stress. So The Knight did a little weedeating (not much though), and we just relaxed with the kids. I watched as they all played Badminton in the backyard, and played with the dogs. It was great.

The kids grabbed the binoculars and checked out a few stars and things. We laughed. We played. We just enjoyed being together.

We didn’t even start watching the movie until 10:45pm. And nobody was whiny or fussing. We just hung out with each other.

I sure hope we get to do this more often…

We’ve really kicked it into high gear this week with school. Homeschooling four kids is tough!   It didn’t help though that we had therapy appointments the last two days either! I think the last child finished all of his assignments last night around 8:30 pm.  I knew something would have to give, so I did what any decent mother would do…stayed up until 2AM getting everything entered into the computer for the rest of the week, and laid out their assignments for today so they would be ready. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully things will go a little quicker now…

I’m also hoping to get in a little time today to practice on my cake decorating lessons. I think I’ll surprise the kids and make a cake to practice on. They might like that!

It’s late again. For the third night in a row I am tired and can’t sleep. I’ve averaged five hours of sleep the last two days. I’m tired. My body is worn out, but my mind is reeling. I still need to go take a bath, and get ready for bed. It’s been a long day.

Sports Guy has one more day of basketball camp. I am so glad we signed him up. He is doing terrific! Tomorrow we get to go and watch them play a game of three on three. I know he is looking forward to it. The only bad thing is that his dad won’t be there to watch him. I’m taking pictures though so hopefully they will turn out good and his dad can see those.

We all went to the state park today. We took Lily with us. She did great. The kids had a blast playing on the rocks in the river.

Three of them went to the last night of VBS tonight. I can’t say enough good things about it. I think all three of them learned a lot. Lil Guy was even crying because it was over.

I still have to get all the school stuff entered into Homeschool Tracker. Maybe I’ll work on that some tomorrow. Hmm, we’ll see.

Guess I better get going for now…’Night.

Well, I’ve pretty  much got everything now. The Professor’s hard drive kit from BJU came by way of UPS yesterday. I am still waiting on his foreign language. I have everything for Sports Guy, Lil’ Princess, and Lil’ Guy.

Now I just have to do it.

I decided I am going to take this week and try to get everyone’s lessons entered into Homeschool Tracker for the first nine weeks. I already have Sports Guy’s English and Spelling entered. Now I need to work on his Math, Science and History.  The good/bad thing about History will be that it will be the same for all of the three youngest. In case I haven’t before I’ll give you a rundown of what we’re using this year.

The Professor

BJU Hard Drive Grade 6:

• BJU Bible
• BJU Heritage Studies
• BJU Reading
• BJU Math
• BJU Science
• BJU English
• BJU Handwriting/Calligraphy

He’s also finishing MUS Zeta, and Hey Andrew! Teach me some Greek! Levels 3 and 4

Sports Guy

• BJU English
• BJU Reading
• BJU Spelling
• BJU Math
• BJU Science
• Tapestry of Grace Year 1
• BJU Handwriting
• BJU Bible
• MUS Beta/Gamma

Lil Princess

• BJU Handwriting
• BJU Math
• BJU Science
• BJU Spelling
• BJU Reading
• BJU English
• Tapestry of Grace Year 1
• MUS Alpha/Beta

Lil Guy

• BJU Phonics/Reading/Handwriting
• BJU Math
• MUS Primer
• Tapestry of Grace Year 1

I am going to alternate between some things, but I am also trying some new things in the process. I want to see which things work best for each child. They are all so different in their strengths/weaknesses/interests.

I have a feeling it is going to be a very educational year for us all.

My baby is growing up.

Well, one of my babies in particular anyway.

Sports Guy ventured out into new territory today. He went to a basketball camp where he didn’t know a single person. This is huge for him, as he is probably the shyest child I have. (Now, admittedly, not after he has warmed up to you, but it definitely takes him a while.)

He told me this morning that he was nervous, but really excited that he might get to make some new friends. I’m praying he does. He needs one so bad since his friend moved to Tennessee.

So this morning I drove him across town, and helped him with the registration. Then I watched as he walked onto the court as the kids were shooting baskets. He walked to the free throw line and waited for someone to pass him a ball. He stood there for a moment and no one did anything. Then he moved around a little more, but people kept passing balls to others.

And then it happened. One boy who looked a little older than him said something to him, and handed him a ball. Then he smiled slightly and began to play.

I smiled a tentative smile, and turned and walked away. I’m praying things go well. I’ll find out in a few hours.

I learned something this morning. Something I kind of already knew, but now I understand it better. You can be absolutely done with something and ready to move on, and still not be ready to leave.

I went back to the church we visited last week. It was a wonderful service. I was free to worship. The Holy Spirit ministered to me during the time there. The pastor spoke a Word from God I needed to hear. Pretty much everything is how I would want it if I could pick and choose. Yet…I know I don’t belong there. I know it is not where I am supposed to be right. But I don’t want to go back to where I was, and I know I have to.

I can’t tell you how many times I have told people over the last few years they needed to wait on God to move them. Otherwise, they were going to have to come back so they could leave right.  I only want to have to do this once. Even though I don’t want to, I know I have to.  So, I am going to do my best to live out Galatians 2:20 which says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Maybe, if I do it right, someone will see Jesus. If I do it right, maybe it will be me…

As I watched TV this morning I got the chance to hear a message by Dr. James Merritt of Crosspointe Church near Atlanta. He was talking this morning about what a husband’s role is in a marriage. He focused on Colossians 3:19. That verse basically commands husbands to love their wives and not be bitter towards them.

I have to say, I am very grateful to have a husband like what Dr. Merritt described. The Knight isn’t perfect, but he is perfect for me. I am continually amazed at how perfectly God fit us together. He is the balance I need. As he’s had to go on these trips lately, I have come to realize that even more. He helps me with so much around the house, and he’s a great dad and husband.

I have been blessed.

How many times have you heard someone that? I have to admit, a lot of the time I just think of it as something a lot of people say, but not that many actually do it.  Then there have been times I have asked for prayer,and I could feel the difference later. I knew people had been praying for me.

But then, there are times like this morning. I woke up melancholy and things were just going downhill from there. If ever there was a time I needed prayers it was this morning. But I didn’t want to ask anyone else… just God.

And even though no one else knew how I was feeling at that moment, God did. He came in, and helped me start thinking about other things. He got me busy working. He had me listen to worship music. And He had me read something which gave me perspective, convicted me, and encouraged me all at the same time. Isn’t that just like God? He does it, just because He can.

That’s the strange and wonderful thing about God. He knows our desires and our needs.  And even though no one else in the world may know exactly what you’re dealing with, just cry out to Jesus. He will be there with an answer.

Third Day Lyrics
Cry Out To Jesus Lyrics