Routine...Once Again.

Since the closing its been nice that we've slowly gotten back into a family routine and the routine doesn't include packing a moving box, cleaning, or moving something into storage. We're adjusting to living in a smaller, more cozy space at my in-laws.

The kids new routine includes them getting in the pool every evening. My oldest started out years ago afraid to let water get on her face and now she's becoming our little family fish.

We caught Monster's University the other day and it was really, really good. It was very funny. Its amazing how the movie makers make the kid movies so entertaining for the parent too. We indoctrinated Grandma into our new favorite movie snack that's not popcorn... nachos & cheese! yum!

 

 

As we draw near into August, I've begun planning for my transition home from work. I've spread the news around and have set my last day for 23 August. What's been neat about sharing the news are the other working moms reactions. Several were moved to tears at the thought of me being able to come home fulltime and one mentioned that she'd vicariously live through my experience to be able to homeschool. So, I guess everyone doesn't think that I'm all that bonkers!! I think there's a deep seated yearning in every mother for more time with their children however they are able to manage and juggle their schedule. Mainstream society has set a tone for women "having it all", but the struggle is finding that balance and being at peace.

 

My prayer is that every Mom finds that place of balance and peace. 

 

The Journey Begins

On today, 17 July 2013, one door closes and another door opens for us. After 4 amendments to our settlement contract on the house, we went to closing.

By the time it was amended for the 2nd and then 3rd time I finally relented and in my heart and mind "let go and let God" with the whole closing. Each time that I found myself getting discouraged and wondering if the settlement would ever happen, God would remind me over and over of His power and control of all things. It's frustrating to battle with your own flesh to control and manage your emotions when the visible things that are happening seem to be contrary to what you're praying and hoping for. When we find ourselves in these situations we should not place our hope (and allow our emotions to be controlled) by what we see. Instead we must place our hope in God...again and again and again.

I knew each time that we experienced what seemed as a setback, God was driving us to just wait, have faith, and trust.

I kept one daily bread devotional in my email inbox so that I could refer to it when I needed reminding me that God's timing is always perfect.

While everything may not always happen when we want it to, I thank God that I serve a God who always knows what His daugter needs and He provides at the right time.

http://odb.org/2012/10/04/timing-is-everything/

HEAV Convention 2013

I didn’t want to NOT have a blog entry in the month of June, so before the month comes to a close I’ll blog about the Homeschool Educators Association of Virgina’s (HEAV) Convention that was held this month.

The 2012 Convention was my first encounter with so many homeschoolers in one building. After doing so much research about homeschooling, to be in one place with so many like-minded people (or, I should say people who didn’t look at me like an alien when I said that I wanted to homeschool) was so refreshing and actually very emotional for me. It doesn’t take much to make me emotional, but being at this event and walking through the halls seeing the families together made me cry like a baby. The 2012 Convention experience helped further convince me that this was certainly the path that God was leading us down towards for our children. I learned so much about the opportunities that are available to homeschoolers and hearing/reading the testimonies of the parents and children that have graduated from a homeschooling environment was a blessing. To me it was a reality that not only can children receive a wonderful education from their homeschooling parents, but the additional benefits that include creating close family ties, having the freedom to teach and spend time learning about areas that are more limited in a school environment, and the wide spectrum of curriculum that can be used just further encouraged me. 

So, fast forward to 2013. I knew that I wanted to return but wasn’t sure what else I needed to know after reading all that I read and after attending in 2012. There is SO much information out there that one can easily become overwhelmed, so you can never stop learning about to refine and enhance how to teach your children. I felt the urge to attend again so that at a minimum I could purchase curriculum materials that I’d need. As I reflect on the 2012 convention I believe this year’s event was not just for me, but also for my kids. I decided to take them along and I’m so glad that I did. To see them see the other kids that are taught at home was a blessing. I even let them choose several of the workshops that interested them. They chose an art workshop that discussed how we could incorporate art skills into our curriculum as both my girls love art. Its their outlet really. While I love to pass the time curled up with a great book, their idea of relaxing is painting, drawing, coloring, or making some sort of craft. The 2^nd workshop they chose was the Duggar girls and mother Q&A session. I think they were just a little start struck and wanted to see them in person since they’ve seen them on t.v.

The girls also enjoyed the exhibition hall which is a huge arena full of homeschool curriculum for sale along with other goods that a homeschool family might use. My kids favorite vendor was a paint supply vendor. I was able to find a few materials for the Spelling Curriculum that we’ll be using, but had to order the complete set of books that I’ll need to be shipped to my house later on. Our other favorite spot at the convention is the Used Curriculum Sale which is another huge arena of gently used curriculum and supplies. We found some used reference books, charts, and reading books.

The girls and I had a great time together at the event. I am so looking forward to the time that we’ll spend together. While I know that the road ahead will have its challenges, the gift of time with the girls that God is blessing me to train and educate them is one that I will not take for granted. 

Oh – and, I can’t forget their very last favorite part of the event… eating! Like me, the girls love good food. They had fun copping a squat on the floor (there were SO many people that it was easier to sit on the floor and eat rather than wait for a table) hanging out with Mom snacking on all the good food and snacks.

 

 

Another Book Review

I have another book to reflect on that is a FANTASTIC addition to any Mom's library of resources.
I picked this one up at the Lifeway Christian Store while I was in pursuit of a different resource. I went to the bookstore on a "mission" for a little booklet that contained a series of sermons by John MacArthur entitled, "The Fulfilled Family". You can find these sermons on his Grace to You website at, http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/52/the-fulfilled-family. But, I couldn't find the booklet so I continued on my mission for another great resource to read along with my Bible regarding God's expectations for the family and more importantly for a Mother.

I happened upon "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson.. I thought, "Well, I wonder what this author has to say about a mother's mission and more importantly is it aligned with scripture?". I purused the book for a bit and found myself not wanting to put it down. That's a good indication of a good read.
This one is definitely a keeper. Its one book that I found myself truly convicted and desiring to read and re-read portions over and over again to make sure that it was sinking in my head. It pulls together all of the scriptures found in the Word regarding God's expectation for a Mother and how those differences stand so far apart from mainstream society. Given the conflict between the Bible and the world's way, its comforting to read from an author that speaks boldly, confidently, and clearly about what God desires of a mother's heart.

I don't want to give away too much on the book, so I'll just stop there and encourage everyone to grab their own copy, a cup of coffee, and get cozy in your favorite chair as you ponder and reflect on God's mission of the Mother.

Reflections of Mueller

In addition to my daily Bible reading of various verses to remain encouraged each day, and the "Jesus Calling" daily devotional (by Sarah Young) that provides wonderful reminders in connection to the Word of God's sovereignty and control over all things, I picked up the book, "Answers to Prayer" by George Mueller during the last few months leading up to receving the contract on the house.

When you're waiting on God and praying for an answer to a specific requests that is burdening your heart, its just plain easy to wallow in self pity and worry that your prayer will never be answered. Satan knows our weaknesses and can play upon our emotions to be led to doubt what we believe in our heart that God is doing in our life. Taking the thoughts that Satan and we ourselves conjure up in our minds and hearts captive and replacing them with Truth is so imperative. If we don't take them captive they will fester and grow like mold or a virus and take root in our heart and mind. Before we know it we'll find ourselves believing a total lie.

Close friends let us borrow the book by Mueller several years ago and I recall reading through a portion of it at the time. Now several years later I picked it up again and decided to read it completely and wow... it just resonated with me in such special ways given the fact that I was continuing to wait on God and lift up our requests to Him. One thing that I admired in Mueller was his steadfastness to pray. He first off prayed for things that solely brought the Lord glory and he would continue to pray until God answered it. He prayed over and over again, petitioning the Lord multiple times in one day for the requests on his heart. And, while time could pass by for years without any sign of the prayer being answered, he described his confidence in the Lord knowing that the Lord heard him and would answer it in His time (and, not when he thought God should answer) .

This was such an encouragement to me and it helped me in my waiting period to learn more about my God's character. His timeline is not my timeline and through the waiting I'm led to be fully dependent on Him and no one else. I learned that, this is His desire. That I depend on Him. That I need Him and that I'm patient on His working things out for His glory and not my own.

Some days I wondered if God looked down at me saying, "here she goes again.. praying that same prayer request." and, the truth is He knew each moment that I prayed what I was going to say, but the beauty was my need of Him and ultimate dependence for His power in the midst of what felt like a hopeless and difficult situation.

Muellers faith blessed my soul. We all will have to wait for something in our life. In the circumstances that we're waiting on the Lord and the end of our waiting results in His glorification, I pray that we will not grow weary in our waiting, but we'll fall to our knees each time that ee feel ourselves growing discouraged. And, we'll seek the Lord however many times that it takes to be renewed in our Spirit because we know that He never grows tired of our requests.

Answered Prayer

Its been about 2 moths since I've blogged and given the fact that I haven't advertised my blog yet, the only audience is me! So, I'm the only one to give myself backlash for slacking.

Lots of things have transpired over the last few months...
- As we continued to lower the asking price of our home the activity of interested prospective buyers started to pick up. We got our first offer in March, but after serious consideration and asking God for wisdom we unfortunately had to turn it down.

God was faithful and continued to bring lookers to the house. In early May we received 2 more offers in one weekend, one of them being our best offer yet and we accepted and entered under contract.

- We're now scheduled to close July 1st so we've been doing the things necessary to close on the house. This process has been so *new* to us. We've experienced a lot of processes after going through the construction of a home, but never anything like this. Our agent has been absoloutely fantastic (more on her later)

- To date, we've had the water inspected, our septic system pumped & inspected, the home inspected, and have  filled out all sorts of paperwork to prepare for closing.

- As we near closing, we've started packing up the house and prepping to store things away.

- After exhuasting the short-term rental options in our area which are so pitiful, we decided to take our in-laws up on their gracious offer of letting us stay again with them (they so lovingly took us in for a 2 1/2 years while we constructed our home back in 2002-2004)

- I informed my boss that I was expecting and told him that if all goes well I'd like to transition home from work at the end of August to start homeschooling my kids in September.

- The kids said their good byes to their school, their friends, their teachers, etc. That was a tearful day. My oldest's class had been praying for the sale of our home since September (she made our real estate ad her notebook cover; a realtor in training?), so to witness the culmination of their answered prayer on the last day of school filled me up so. They presented my daughter with a class picture and then prayed over us for our new adventure. Her teacher and I held each other and cried.

- I've continued to narrow down the kids homeschooling curriculum and outline their schedule. I've met with a few parents considering homeschooling (mind you I haven't homeschooled a day in my life) and have passed onto them what I've learned so far. I've also met with a mom that I share a like-mindedness regarding my philosophy on education and all (more on that later too..) and she's helped me further narrow down what types of material I'd like to use our first year.

- We've narrowed down which modular home plan we're considering for the next home which we're going to build on our property and are praying that God would provide us a reputable builder to construct the home. The modular process is a much quicker process than stick building on site. They build the home in doors in an offsite location and then transport it in "modules" to your property and put it together. We've visited the factory where they are constructed and then several models so that hubby could see the quality of the their work. My prayer has been to inform him as much as possible so that he can make an informed decision.

- and.....................we're continuing to GROW! Baby Jordan No. 3 has NO IDEA what their family is doing here on the outside world. LOL. The baby is working on growing day after day, so the baby is busy as well (wouldn't it be neat if a baby could blog from the placenta..)

This is my belly and not my bottom as my 6 yr old suggested.

whew! I think that catches our crazy life up so far.

I felt compelled to share all this because the questions are starting to come and the interesting looks are starting to turn up on faces of co-workers, friends, family, etc. as I share our plans & how they are unfolding.

Some I'm sure think we're absoloutely off our rocker to sell a home that we spent a 1 1/2 yrs. building just so that I can stay home and teach my kids who were in a perfectly safe and wonderful school! Its a little absurd when you think about it. Good job, beautiful home, comfortable life, why mess up a good thing?

The only way I can explain it in one word is, God.

He'll make you do some crazy things. Kinda like love you know? When you fall in love you'll do some really silly things to make your confidant happy. Well, my God did something really crazy too. His Father sent his ONLY Son to die on a cross to redeem a people that had no desire to love him. This Son was scourged, beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross and He was INNOCENT of the crime that He was accused of. We find ourselves asking why? He too did it because of His love for God the Father.

While I'm sure I'll continue to get the strange looks and questionable responses from folks of why we're doing what we do, my prayer is that our life will speak a testimony of love, sacrifice, submission, obedience, hope... I know that this journey will not be easy, but God is with us.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Learning to Lean and Depend on God

As God continues to hold my hand through this waiting period of life, I have been blessed along the way through the experiences that God is blessing me with. I had the opportunity to present a devotional on “Waiting on the Lord” to the ladies fellowship at my Church and was able to pull from all the lessons I’ve learned to date on waiting.

Though waiting on the Lord can be challenging because we live in a society that is groomed to expect an immediate response to just about everything – especially when it comes to technology – there can be immense blessings realized through total reliance on our Heavenly Father for our needs.

While we’re waiting, here are some things to keep us busy,

1)       God does hear us, so we can talk to Him.

a.       Psalm 116:1; I love the Lord, for he heard by voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

2)       God can be trusted, so we can trust Him

a.       And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you. (Psalms 9:10)

3)       God is worthy of our praise in any circumstance, so we should praise Him

a.       Rev 4:11, You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.

4)       God is provides all our needs, so we should thank Him

a.       When we praise and thank God for what He’s done our thoughts will be diverted off our situation and onto God’s provision

b.       Philippians 4:19, And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

5)       God is working everything for our good, so we need to wait and watch for Him to be glorified

a.       Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

6)       We should seek out what God is teaching us in this waiting

7)       We ought to focus on God’s promises

a.       Examine & manage your thoughts/perspective

8)       We should meditate daily on God’s Word and replace impatient, negative thoughts with God’s truth

9)       Pray, pray, pray – express to God how you feel. Prayer is a demonstration of our reliance upon a Sovereign God

a.       When everything is going as you want the need to rely on God seems minimal compared to a situation where you feel helpless and God is the only solution to your situation. You will find as you commune with God, crying out to Him, praying to Him, that you know Him more.

b.       You will become stronger each time you come to Him. 

c.       Enlist others to pray with and for you.

10)   When you worry, you do not trust your Heavenly Father. That means you don't know Him well enough.

11)   Examine if your petition(s)/what you’re waiting on is consistent with the Word of God. Pray God’s Word back to Him in your prayers.

12)   Examine the condition of your heart and confess unrepentant sins

a.       Psalm 66:16-20

                                                               i.      If I had Cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened: he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

13)   Study the lives of those who waited & struggled with waiting (e.g., Job, David, Abraham, Sarah)

14)   Examine God’s track record in your life

a.        If you have any question about the future, look at the past. Did He sustain you then? Don't worry--He will sustain you in the future as well.

15)   Focus on the gift of TODAY

God gives you the glorious gift of life today; live in the light and full joy of that day, using the resources God supplies. Don't push yourself into the future and forfeit the day's joy over an anticipated tomorrow that may never happen. Today is all you really have, for God permits none of us to live in tomorrow until it turns into today.

God knows exactly what we stand in need of. Waiting on the Lord is not a sign on God’s inactivity in your life. As we wait on God and He molds and shapes us inwardly through our prayers, meditation, and examination of our relationship with Him, God will drive us to rely upon Him for our every need until He outwardly glorifies Himself through us in answered prayer.