Home School Village

Robyn, Stef, Sue, and Susan started The Homeschool Village with a desire to provide a place of connection and encouragement for homeschool moms. Each week, they have a link up party at Layton Family Joy, focusing on a new topic of discussion that is applicable to the homeschooling mom. During the rest of the week, they share encouragements (and Starbucks) through their facebook page and tweets! If you are a homeschooler, I know that you will be glad to hang out at the Village! This weeks link up party is to share a favorite book you have found in your homeschooling journey.

I have been homeschooling for almost 6 years. Yes, that sounds like an eternity to me, too. But really, it has flown by. For me, it is not so much about teaching my girls. It is about being with them and discipling them. I do teach math, language, history, science and the like, but our focus is doing life together. I have never been one to read a lot of "how to books" on the subject of homeschooling. So the book I am going to share with you is really a heart book. My pick is:

The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson:

One of my favorite parts of the book is when she describes the ministry of Christ:

"The night before Jesus was to be crucified, his heart and mind must have been filled with weariness and exhaustion at the thought of what he would soon endure...But instead of just telling them (the disciples) what to do, harshly commanding their allegiance with orders and threats or guilt and manipulative statements, he chose to tie the cords of his heart to theirs with the strong and unbreakable bond of a loving, serving relationship. Jesus spent his last night on earth with his disciples in service to them." Pages 34,35 (excerpts)

When I first read these words I thought, "Jesus understands me. The disciples really were like little children. My mothering is a ministry." I can't tell you what a difference this has made in my life as a mom who also happens to homeschool. Every day I have a choice to tie the cords of my heart to theirs. Some days I do better at this than others. But it is always my goal. I pray that they remember, not just the lessons at the table, but the relationships we built around it.

Looking Forward,



P.S. Sally has a beautiful blog called I Take Joy that you really should visit! I know her words will encourage you!

Words To Live By

"Good parenting almost always requires sacrifice.
Childhood lasts only for a brief moment,
but should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes."

Bringing Up Girls
Dr. James Dobson

Looking Forward,

Raising Kids In Faith

Tonight I am taking part in Gather Inspirit TV hosted by Mingle TV. We will be discussing raising kids in faith. Other guests will include Abby from Tommy Nelson Publishers, Brooke and Erin from The M.O.B. Society (Mothers of Boys) and other moms from the MODsquad (mothers of daughters). If you have time between 7PM - 8PM Eastern Standard, check it out!

Click here to find Mingle TV:

Please pray for me as I share my heart for raising my girls in the faith!

Looking Forward,

Chair Time

Unwrapping Joy.....

As I mentioned last week, I have been studying the Fruit of The Spirit this summer. While focusing on Joy recently, God gave me the chance to worship with the lovely Kari Jobe. She was visiting our church and during the service she spoke about "putting on the garment of praise." It is taken from this verse in Isaiah:

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
(Verse 61:3 , New International Version)

The thing that hit me so hard as I reflected on this, was that we have to be willing put on the garment of praise. Some days, I don't feel like it. I'd rather wear despair. Some days, it is a spiritual discipline to put it on. But as I do, His joy covers me. And according to these verses I then have the chance to be called an oak of righteousness, lovingly planted by the Master Gardner. I become a display of His splendor. From ashes, despair, and weeping to gladness, praise and splendor! Now that is a transformation!

Lord, it is my prayer that I will actively seek to put on the garment of praise every day. Even on days when despair feels more comfortable - that by faith I will put on joy. I will put on praise. And I will be transformed into a glorious display of your handiwork for all to see.


Joyfully,

Multitude Monday

Counting 1,000 Gifts

Being Mommy...

#299 Ice cream makes me the best mommy in the world
#300 Being the one they want when they are sick
#301 The chance to teach them about faith, family, heart and home
#302 Reading before bed.
#303 Forgiveness
#304 Dreaming big dreams with them and for them.
#305 A hand to always hold
#312 Hearing the praise of others upon them.
#313 Getting a front row seat to it all.

Thankful,

June To Do List

I'm sharing my June To Do List with you in order to keep myself accountable to actually do what is on the list. I always feel better when I can write it down and see it. Somehow, it feels like an accomplishment by just putting it on paper!

These things are just few of the things that I'm aiming to do this month. They range from getting Scripture more visible in my home to being purposeful to build relationships with each of my girls. I also am hoping to get some time out of the house alone during the week to just be quiet, write and think. And, I am looking around my very neglected home to see what projects need to be accomplished first in the downstairs area and then July I will move to the upstairs.

What about you? What is on your June To Do List?

Have a great weekend,

The Porch

The first time I met Tiffany, was in a moment of desperation. My husband was away on a business trip for about 14 days, and I was home alone with 3 small children. A mutual friend 'gifted' me an afternoon alone by loaning me her babysitting services. She has been caring for my girls ever since. I am so glad she is hanging out on the Porch with us today. I think you will love her sweet story of being in His presence.


in His presence

i love babysitting. seriously, there is nothing better than watching someone's kids and getting to leave at the end of the night and get a full nights sleep. i mean, i want to be a mom someday, but babysitting is really as good as it gets! its like the best of both worlds!

i love when i get to a house and the kid(s) have one thing that they love to do with me. at one house, its painting fingernails for 3 bright eyed energetic girls. at another house, its watching Tinkerbell the movie with another little girl that dreams of being Ariel one day. this is the same girl that thinks her daddy is prince charming!

God doesn't babysit me, although i think sometimes my behavior warrants babysitting, but that is besides the point. but there are things i LOVE to do with Him. i love to rest in His presence. i know that sounds so general, but have you ever been there? have you ever been so fully wrapped in Him that you get goosebumps?

it happened on my way home today. i was singing How Deep The Father's Love For Us (sung by Nichole Nordeman) in my car and felt it. the goosebumps traveled all the way from my ankles to my head. you know, that kind that overwhelms you? it came at this part:

it was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
i know that it is finished

sometimes i cannot even imagine how or why He loves me the way He does. i don't think i am supposed to.

like i said, i love babysitting, and the fact that the kids love doing one special thing with Miss Tiffany. but what the kids don't know, is that as much as they love doing that with me, i love just being with them. i like to think God thinks that too. in fact, i know He does.

Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Thanks Tiffany for sharing your heart with us today! And thank you for loving my girls, showing them how to serve the Lord with your whole life . I believe that God is using you as one of the 1 Million Arrows that is striking a blow in the darkness!

Looking Forward,

You can visit Tiffany's personal blog by clicking here. And by the way, my girls are the ones who love the finger nail painting!