Family Road Trip

We took a road trip out to Petersburg, KY to the visit the Creation Museum. We were fortunate to hear Ken Ham, creator of the museum, speak at a homeschool convention this past June and were eager to visit and see what we could learn on Creationism. 

Just like about every other school subject that my kids learn, I in return learn so much. There is a wealth of information in this museum. One of the most interesting topics presented explained the existence of dinosaurs when God created the beasts of the ground. Being exposed to a scientific theme contrary to evolution, in a museum, was so intriguing and at the same time a sweet blessing.

Botanical Gardens

We had time in our trip to visit Cincinnati where we toured the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. There was a special exhibit where we were treated to an up close and personal viewing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was one of the original 24 copies that remian in the US with Abraham Lincoln's signature (there were no pictures allowed in that particular exhibit).  

Ohio River

Summer Days Roll On

With my Instagram account I can easily develop picture collages. Here are a few that capture our summer days thus far,

Homeschool Convention 2015

Summer Golf Camp

4th of July Weekend Fishing

Field Trip to Yorktown 

My Oldest turned 11 and celebrated "Chopped Style"

Trip to Niagara Falls to visit with friends

What's in a Title?

It’s one of those moments when my little guy is napping and my girls are off having Grandma-time. I get to think in brief, but worthwhile 30-minute moments of clear and uninterrupted time, without being mentally distracted with a need to settle a sibling argument or change a stinky diaper. Oh, the joys of motherhood.

Image Source

Over the past few weeks I was having thoughts about the call of motherhood and how society has a way of placing the requirement on every Mother to have a specific title or a job that they need to identify with beyond motherhood. If we think back, maybe it all started with the Feminist movement where women were being motivated to peer beyond the four walls of the home and into the world for a sense of purpose.

Several words have been echoing in my mind and on these peaceful, quiet moments within the four walls of my home, I find the time to write them down. THIS IS what you do.

When you’re first introduced to someone and you carry on a casual conversation, more often than not you’re asked the question, “So, what do you do?” From there you reply with whatever your job title is. For the homemaker, we may respond with “Oh, I just stay at home”, or “I’m at home with my kids”, as if to imply that our title isn’t worthy enough of saying it with confidence and conviction.

As I got up the other day and worked to clean up my dirty dishes, put in a load of laundry, and tidy up the living room, I thought about all of the mundane tasks that are required of the homemaker. Every day that the homemaker gets up to take care of her family and her home, there are a list of things that are required of her to complete the required tasks of the day. Once she has completed those tasks, she may feel a deep yearning to do more. To do another task, or fulfill another purpose, outside of what she’s expected to do within the home.

 

But, my question is why?

Why does she need a title beyond, “Homemaker”, “Stay At Home Mom”, “Housewife”, “Soccer Mom”, etc. ?

Titus 2:3-5 states, Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I admit that I fell privy to needing a title as I grew up. I needed a title that I could identify with. Now… the only title that I really need is,

Daughter of the King.

A Child of God.  

A Servant of the Most High.

I thank the Lord that by his grace, He has granted me this title by His Death on the Cross and His forgiveness of my sins. Beyond this title, He has given me the title of Mother.  As I serve the Lord as a Mother, He gives me peace in knowing that it is in the title of just being Mom that I find an additional sense of purpose where I can glorify the Lord each day as Mother. When I ponder over my titles in this light, my duties take on great meaning and purpose. I'm called to mentor and disciple other young women in the ways of the Lord, urging them to love their husbands and children. I'm called to be busy at home, kind, and submissive to my husband as He in return strives to honor the Lord as my husband. I'm called to teach my children God's Word as we rise up in the morning, as we walk along throughout the day, and as we turn in for the night. The purpose in doing all of this is first and foremost to glorify God. To draw attention to the One, true God in this sinful world, that others may see Christ in our lives and His Word not be put to shame.

When we meditate on these truths, the title of a Child of God and a Mother brings with it a lofty set of expectations. Though they are lofty, they are not impossible because God has given each child of God the Holy Spirit to empower us to fulfill the title.

When I think of all of the titles that I've held in the past, and all sorts of other titles that I could attain in this world, I thank God for renewing my mind with His Word.

I'm okay with the titles He's given me.

For me, being a Mom IS what I do.

Summer Break'n

We are officially celebrating summer around these parts and it's a nice change from our regular, school routine. Since our big move to the great, pine tree wooded outdoors, we've been enjoying being outside so much more. Nature has a way of slowing life down and reminding us that the world does not revolve around television shows, commercials, and the latest happenings on the news. We've been eating up the summer days thus far simply with, family time.

 

I've also taken it upon myself to rededicate time in my day to a regular workout regimen that started out in early May with a walk and run routine in the early morning and bike rides. Getting up as the sun rises has given me the motivation that I needed to stay committed now for over a month at working out. The kids have been motivators as well as they enjoy bike rides too. I have a hard time telling them no when they ask to go out for a spin.

 

 

 

Yes, our days have been filled with family time, exercising, and yard work! With the countless number of dry, warm days after months and months of cold, wet weather, we have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to plant seed and watch our grass grow. The hubby has also been earning brownie points putting in our sidewalk and setting up the flower beds.

 

 

The last adventure that has been filling our summer days is cooking. I haven't really dabbled into many new recipes, but my girls have been keeping my kitchen dirty. I honestly don't mind the dirty dishes when I don't have to cook the meal. My oldest continues to have a passion for cooking and baking. Here, with the help of her sister-sous-chef, she whipped up pan seared chicken, loaded diced potatoes, and brown sugar green beans. All without my help! I'm so thankful there's another cook in our house. I need to incorporate her more into my meal planning, especially during these summer months so that I can officially have a summer break!

And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers

Rivers never ceases to amaze me in her writing.

I picked up her book, "And the Shofar Blew", a week ago and wasn't too impressed with the cover of the book. I'm one of those superficial readers when it comes to picking out a book based on the cover. I have the tendency of gravitating towards beautifully illustrated covers that attract my eye as I walk library aisles. This book was published in 2003. Perhaps Rivers wasn't took keen on impressing readers back then with the book cover. Whatever the reason, I didn't pick this one because of the cover. I chose it mostly based on the reviews and the book description.

Many of the Rivers books that I've read so far have a love story that entangles the reader and beckons you to turn page after page as you hold out to see what happens in the end. While this story does tell a story about the love between a man and woman, its not the main theme that drives the story. This book instead tells the story of the Church. God's Church that is and the struggles the Body of Christ can experience when sin enters the pulpit.

The state of the Christian Church is hotly debated today. Topics such as church growth, prosperity, and the degradation of how the gospel is presented across the pulpit fill the conversations of Church-goers. Rivers takes these topics and weaves in God's view of them with a story that grips the reader and makes them ponder over their own view of the Church and what's truly important as one seeks out a Church. If you're looking for a book that is a change from the typical man meets girls and then live happily ever after, check out this book and read about how a man (Christ as the Groom), desires his Bride (the Church) to be a light in the world.

Growth

Our second year of school is drawing to a close. We exhaled after our week of testing and then later rejoiced over how well the girls performed on their tests. It’s amazing that our second year of homeschool has come and gone! Just yesterday it seemed that I was canvasing the internet, googling the words, “how to homeschool”. I can still remember the flutter of butterflies in my stomach at the thought of spending my every waking moment with my children and standing before them to teach concepts that I hadn’t seen since grade school. The fears were very real back then, but was so my God.

With each wakeful night that I found myself staring up at my bedroom ceiling pondering over what the years ahead would be like as a “homeschool Mom”, God was my constant strength, my rock, the one thing that remained steady and firm in my journey. When others questioned, “why do it?” the only question from God seemed to be, “why not?”

The girls continue to learn, grow, and thrive in this home environment where we just happened to do school. While there is lots of growing going inside the walls of our home, there is some growth outdoors as well!

Yes, there is much more than dirt and trees outside my windows these days. About a week ago, our Excavator completed grading our yard, which prepared our land for grass seed. Our ground is now beginning to compliment the beautiful, whispering pines in the surrounding woods. We’re also laying out our sidewalk and preparing to fill up our flower beds.



The past few months have surely been a time of growth as God has been faithful to provide for us as we seek to honor Him. We’re looking forward to summer days. We won’t tread too far from the world of education as we continue math drills, reading, and  maybe even a little science in the summer, but we’ll work in some much needed mental rest too.

A New "Home" for our School

My hubby is blessing us with a special treat, hopefully to be in working order by the end of summer.

 

A new, dedicated space for our homeschool!

 

Walls are now up and just about ready for a coat of paint.

 

Since moving in our home we've been quite comfortable having school at the kitchen table and the living room. It's been very convenient having the children do their schoolwork so close to the kitchen, making it easy to break for lunch and then jump right back into schoolwork. The only downside to not having a dedicated space is having to store away all of our school materials everyday. It will be nice to be able to setup our "school room" once and not worry about packing it up at the end of the day.