Every Day Is Beautiful

I will have to admit that this past weekend was a struggle. A rather large unexpected expense came up while we were out-of-town, which left a thorn in my side. I tried not to worry about it, I tried not to complain about it, and I tried not to be frustrated, upset,or angry. I know in Philippians 4:12 that the Lord commands us to do all things without murmurings and disputings. So, why was I murmuring so much?

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(Look at how much fun they were having!)

I was focusing on the ugly moment at hand.  I was focusing on the world.  I was focusing on everything that was not important! I was trying to focus on praising the Lord for keeping us safe when our new “quite a bit used” vehicle broke down miles from home.  I was trying to praise Him. But, I just did not feel like being happy, cheerful, and okay with the situation. I tried to hide my gloominess throughout the day (probably not as well as I should have). But, after reading Philippians 4:4-6 with the kids at breakfast this morning, I realized that I cannot praise the Lord and find peace in Him with resentment in my heart! It. Is. Not. Possible.

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(They were not gloomy, unhappy, or bitter at all!  They were lovin’ it.)

Yes, the little bit of money that I thought the Lord had provided for Christmas is now gone plus more.  But. It. Is. Okay! Do you know why? Let me count the ways. I had wonderful Christian family members and friends encouraging me the whole weekend.  I had four beautiful children and an awesome husband who smiled despite it all. (They handle negative situations so gracefully!) The sun was warm and beautiful, which was such a blessing since we were outside enjoying an amusement park on Saturday (thanks to my mom and step-dad!).  Despite money being tighter than usual, we will have food on our table and a warm house to live in the entire month of December. The Lord always provides for our needs. And, the vehicle that really means nothing in the long view of things, can be fixed and should last us for many years to come. And if it doesn’t: It. Is. Okay!!  A vehicle is a luxury in my book. It is a worldly possession that will eventually rust and crumble to the ground. I am so glad that I don’t have to find my joy in worldly things!  I am so glad the Lord reminded me where my faith belongs this weekend.

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So, today I say thank you Lord for protecting us.  Thank you for sending the right people to encourage us. Thank you for making me understand that the Christmas gifts do not matter. Thank you for reminding me that you are the reason we celebrate Christmas.  You are our gift.  Thank you for helping me teach my children the true meaning of Christmas.  Thank you for taking away my bitter heart.  I love you, I love you, I love you!! You are good all the time.

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Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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(The notes that Jaden snuck and wrote this morning while we were making an ornament to go along with a book we had read. Another reminder that there is joy in every situation and what prompted me to write this post.  I hope you all have a great week, and let’s rejoice in the Lord together!)

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Just A Swingin’

How do you create hours of fun for your kids?

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You tie sheets to the table in order to make hammocks underneath! (Warning – It is pretty fun for mommies, too!!) 😉

Psalm 127:3 – Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

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O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E

A month or so ago, the Lord burdened my heart to dig deeper into what it means to be virtuous.  He gently nudged me until I was completely committed to teaching our children what His word says about being a virtuous Christian.  Our family understands our salvation is a gift from God, and after we ask Him to come into our hearts, He is there to stay!  Ephesians 2:8 explains this well.  But, we also understand that we are to let Christ shine through us by loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37).  What a great command.  I have learned that this is not possible without the Lord’s help and guidance.  Unfortunately, I struggle with this EVERY DAY!  Thank goodness, He is always willing to help me put my flesh to rest.  Not only is He willing to help me, but He is also willing to help my children and my husband become more tenderhearted, too.

The conversation James and I had today made it clear why the Lord has put this burden on my heart!

Me: James, will you throw that paper away, please?
James: Yes, Mommy! I am being obedient!
Me: Wow! Yes, you are!

Can you guess which virtue we have been focusing on for a few weeks now? Can you spell it? O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E. I am so thankful that my oldest three children have hid this song in their hearts.  They learned it from the children’s choir at our church.  The words to this song have helped our family so much.  Apparently the 3 year old mentioned above has been paying close attention. The verses we memorized to go with this song are John 14:15 and Ephesians 6:1.  Our family has learned that John 14:15 has to be understood before the commandment in Ephesians 6:1 can take place!

Thank you Lord for helping me learn how to teach my children virtues! Teaching my children how to be virtuous is not only transforming their lives, but my life is being transformed as well. Helping my children understand why it is important for their actions to please the Lord has made me more cautious of whether or not my own actions are pleasing to the Lord.  I have realized that it is so important not to teach in vain. God’s word is coming to life in our home, and I am so grateful.  I know the world would be a happier place if more time was spent teaching children and (adults) virtues.  I know this because our home is slowly becoming a happier place to live.  Loving one another as Christ has loved us is becoming evident in our lives.  And, my heart fills with joy just thinking about it.

From my past experiences as a public and private school teacher and now being a homeschooling mother of four, I have come to the realization that most children are more than willing to be virtuous if the TRUE meaning of why it is so important is taught.  Don’t get me wrong, we have daily struggles in this house, but it is an honor to be able to go straight to God’s word to learn how to handle our conflicts!  If we put forth the time and effort and call upon His name (something that I have struggled with in the past), He is so willing to listen and help.

I am so grateful that the Lord has taught Jamie and me to teach our children scriptures and virtues at a young age.  The Lord has helped us realize that His word is so much more important than any other subject matter that is taught in homes, in public school systems, in private school systems, and any higher education system. Teaching my children God’s word is a burden that the Lord has strongly placed upon my heart, and I am so glad that He has placed it there.  I pray that these verses and virtues will always stick with my children.  I pray that they will always see the need to follow the words of II Peter 3:18, which is one of the first verses that Jacob and I learned together several years ago.  It has helped me understand why my walk with the Lord is so important.

Making sure not to forget how to be obedient, we are now focusing on how to be patient with one another. (Boy, have I needed the practice! It has been so helpful.) Our verse is James 1:3, and the kids are continuously coming to me with examples of biblical people who had to show patience.  Are you wondering how is it going? So far, so good!  🙂

A family that prays together, stays together!  😉

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(I am clinging to this verse.)

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Look Who Is Six!

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Dear Jaden,

Today was an awesome day! Thank you for bringing so much joy to my heart.  You are a huge blessing. You ALWAYS know how to make all of us laugh.  You say some of the cutest things. Today was no exception.  You made me laugh and smile all day!  It is a day that I will never forget.  Our family would be lost without you.  You make us so proud. I am very proud of how much you have grown in the Lord this year.  You have an amazing way of  letting your love for Jesus shine through your bubbly personality. Don’t ever stop being so tenderhearted and caring.  I love watching you grow and change every day. I thank the Lord for you every day.  He gave your father and me an amazing daughter! And you are an amazing sister to your brothers and sister!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures from our day together.  I hope you will never forget the special memories we shared. I hope you will always hear the giggles that came as you watched the play Miss Nelson is Missing. I hope you will always be able to recall the taste of the Superman ice cream. I hope you will always see yourself sharing your gifts with your friends. I hope you will hear the laughter and chatter forever! I hope you will feel cozy when you relive the warmth inside the ice cream shop and the love of all of your friends. I hope the memory of today will make you smile for many more years to come. But most importantly, I hope you will always know how much you mean to all of us! I love you silly goose! 😉

Love Always,

Mommy

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Your Birthday Interview:

How old are you? 6

What is your favorite food? Macaroni and Cheese

What do you hope you never have to eat again? Broccoli

What is your favorite thing to do? Horseback riding

What is your favorite animal? A Dalmatian

What makes you happiest? Playing outside

What is the best memory from when you were 5? I got saved. 🙂

What is one thing you’d like to do while you are 6? Play with daddy more

What would you like to be when you grow up? A hair stylist

What is your favorite song? This Little Light of Mine

Where is your favorite place to eat? HodgePodge on Main

What is your favorite book? The Little Rabbit

Where would you like to go on vacation? The beach

What would you like the world to know? I love my dad and my family and my mom and my Jacob and my James and Jayla.

Proverbs 31:3 – Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

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How do you spell J.O.Y?

(Note: I wrote most of this the day after the election in 2012. I edited it in 2016 to make my thoughts clearer. Things have tremendously changed in our family since 2012. Despite the changes, all of God’s principles have stayed the same. In my revision, I did not eleborate on any changes or the size our family is now because I wanted to leave the post as original as possible. I want to be able to read this post ten years from now and know what I was thinking on the day I wrote this in 2012. I want to always be reminded that just because our circumstances change, God’s Word does not. Our family growth is a huge blessing, but in the midst of blessings it still seems that policies have continued to decline for our country. My hope is not in this country. Six years later, God’s Word has not changed. It will not change 10 or 20 years from now. Jesus continues to be my rock and my salvation!)

Today I choose to write about a subject very near and dear to my heart: Abortion. Abortion has been a topic of discussion among Americans for awhile now. The Lord has put this topic on my heart.  The first few paragraphs may seem harsh, but keep reading. There is hope!

Abortion is murder. Period. All four of my children are breathing and their hearts are beating.  They are all special unique individuals that the LORD knitted in my womb. And they were breathing and their hearts were beating while they were in my womb!  I am saddened by the thought that I could have chosen to murder my children before they were born because it is supposedly MY right.  It is not a Right that I should have. It is not a right that I will take.  I refuse this right!  It is not a right that any woman should have. I would have died for any of my children; I still would. Would you attempt to save your child’s life if he was drowning even if it meant you might drown yourself?

Being against abortion, is not my opinion, it is God’s Word. It saddens me to think that children are no longer viewed as a blessing from the Lord. Children are not a curse who take away careers or get in the way of best laid out plans. The fruit of the womb is God’s reward. Children are and will always be a reward! Psalm 127:3.

I pray that the women of our country will turn back to understanding that it is their duty but also a privilege and an honor to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Even if you have had an abortion, God’s love is still the same for you. Mine is, too. But, God is the one who can forgive you if you are His child and you ask. God is the one who instructs us to ask for forgiveness when we choose to sin against Him.

Please do not think I am bashing anyone who has made sinful choices. I have made plenty of sinful choices. Choices which I now hate. But there is good news. The Lord continues to teach me how to be pleasing to Him. I am thankful that God is a God of forgiveness. Praise the Lord! Jesus’s blood washed my sins away. Every single one of them: past, present, and future. That’s why I am so convicted when I make sinful choices throughout my day. God paid a great price for me. He died for me. His child!

God can mold each woman into the person He desires her to be. What a wonderful thought! This truth is what keeps me going each day. Not only can God forgive women, but our entire nation must ask for forgiveness, turn from our sinful habits, and put God first. I hope you all continue to understand how very convicting my own words are to myself!! We all fall short of the glory of God, but with God’s strength, we can unite and make our nation a better place. Our hope has to be in the Lord and not those around us.

I want to stress one last time that my family is absolutely not a perfect family, but through God’s grace, Jamie and I have banded together to raise our children to understand that we have to stand strong on Biblical principles. We have to stay sensitive to God’s direction. Without the Lord, we have no hope. We can’t apologize for following God’s Word in our lives. The Lord has done so much for our family, and He continues to convict us and keep us on the right path. It’s so easy to get drawn away and have our beliefs tested in this wicked world; however, I pray that as a family, we will always cling to God’s word for guidance and go to Him when we lack wisdom -James 1:5. Our faith in God must stand strong.

(Your child is just as special as my children.  God created my children and yours.  The aborted child is just as special as my children and yours.  God creates every child.)

Sadly, I am not sure where the faith of many American citizens resides. It should not be in any political person who chooses abortion or any other sinful laws as an option. Our family is living proof that God will provide all your NEEDS and guide your paths if you ask and have faith.  …without faith it is impossible to please Him. -Hebrews 11:6

My dream as an American is for every citizen to understand that Jesus has to be first. That is the only way to have JOY! Without Jesus first, there isn’t ever going to be any joy. Look around at all the strife going on in America. Christians let’s do our job. Let’s show others how great Jesus really is. Let’s show others how following Him is the only way to true freedom.

After last night’s election, my faith does not waver. I will continue to pray for my family. As a family, we will continue to pray for our nation and its leaders.  I pray that God will soften our leaders’ hearts.  I pray that they will accept Him as the true King, and they will trust His lead before it is too late. The leaders of our country were knitted by God; therefore, as Christians, it is our duty to pray for them.  I pray that as Christians, we can be a witness to the American leaders and our fellow citizens around us. And, I pray that we will see them in Heaven one day.

God is a God full of grace, but He is also our judge and will bring chastisement to those who choose not to follow Him. That chastisement is for our own good. As uneasy as it may seem, something has to be done to wake America up. America was founded under God’s name from Biblical principles. And the wrath of God is out of our control. Our sinful habits do hurt those who follow us! The sinful choices that our leaders have made have hurt a lot of people, but our individual sin (mine included) also hurts those around us. Those we love the most!

So, how has the greatest nation become so blinded in such a short period of time?  The answer is simple. The leaders now focus on what they want and what they think the majority wants instead of what God wants. It is a sad time, but it is also a time for Christians to pray, pray, pray!  It is time to spread the good news of the gospel. God answers prayers, and He will never forsake His people.  And, it is written that if you are on His side, evil will not prevail in the end! I am thankful to be on His side. Whose side are you on? Today is the day of salvation.  Please join my family and pray that His will shall be done.

Romans 8:28 -And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

II Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Joshua 24:15 – And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

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Viewer Discretion is Advised

Have you ever wondered what a mommy and her children (who don’t have cable television or satellite) do in their free time while daddy is at class?

No words are needed! 😉 I bet they will never forget this night.  I know I won’t.

Psalm 113:9 – He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

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Miss Baby Jayla Update

On Friday, we received the news from Jayla’s pediatrician that all of her test results seem to be within normal limits!  Praise the Lord!  A specialist at UVA is looking over the results now, and I will let you know if anything changes.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  Please continue to pray for her as we await the call from the specialist.  I believe in my heart that all of your prayers worked.  I am still unaware as to why Jayla had so many abnormal newborn screenings, but I do know that the Lord is still and will always be the greatest physician of all.  I also know that Jayla continues to be a huge blessing to our family.  She is growing so quickly, and her daily smiles are priceless.  On a side note, her favorite baby food is peas, and she can almost sit up on her own! 🙂 I am grateful that all of you get to share her milestones with us.

Mark 11:24 – Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

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Our Snowy Day

Please let me bring it inside, Mommy! 🙂

 

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

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A Mid-Day Hike

The hikes that I shared with my family as a child still vividly stand out in my mind.  I am so thankful of the time that we got to spend together.  I can still see us winding through the trails at Hungry Mother State Park and Grayson Highlands State Park singing “99 Bottles of Kool-Aid on the Wall.” My sister and I would always fuss over who got to lead our Collie, Sandy.  She always rescued us from snakes that slithered onto the paths.  I will never forget the time we got lost on a trail at Grayson Highlands!  After laughing our way through some pretty rough terrain, we finally managed to find our way out.  Some of our best hikes were behind the farm that I grew up on.  Every hike behind the farm was an adventure because we never knew what types of animals we would run into.  I especially loved it when we walked up on the miniature horse that roamed the fields.

My love for nature hasn’t changed much over the years because Jamie and I enjoy taking our children on hikes throughout the seasons.  Autumn paints a beautiful scenery.  Below you will find some pictures of a hike our family took on our farm today.

The kids searched for tracks and made animal track plaster casts.  We found an opossum track and a dog track.  The one pictured above is the opossum track.

Jaden thought this rock would be a neat place for a picture! “Come on Jacob,” she called.

Jacob and Jaden found a puffball mushroom.  Jacob used it for a foot rest.  We are so blessed at how much these two love each other.  They truly are best friends!

We hiked to our tree stand to find the bobcat tracks Jamie saw a few days ago.  But, the leaves had already hidden them.  Jacob enjoyed looking for deer signs.  He kept telling us not to touch anything or the deer would smell us!

Jayla enjoyed her first ride in her backpack.  Isn’t this the cutest picture?

We all had a fantastic day together. On our hike, Jaden summed it up best as she sang,

“This is the day

This is the day that the Lord hath made

That the Lord hath made

We will rejoice

We will rejoice

And be glad in it

And be glad in it

This is the day that the Lord hath made!”

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A Band Angel Says It All

Yesterday was a tough day for Jacob and me.  We took Jayla to get her blood drawn at the hospital. And, she had more than a heal prick this time. The nurses had to draw blood from a vein in her arm. Jacob hid his head in his lap. He ended up leaving the room because he couldn’t stand to watch the nurse stick his baby sister’s arm. He got to watch a western in the lobby and was happy about that.  He wishes he could have been one of the cowboys who won the west. He only watches the “kid” friendly westerns, and he actually saved his own life using a trick he learned from one of them (but that is a whole different post)!

Jayla was a trooper. I snuggled her oh so close while one nurse held her arm and another drew the blood.  It wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated! I stared into her eyes and talked to her. I lost count of the number of viles that they took. I hope it was enough!  When the nurse asked if I would like a band-aid, I told her that I had brought her a special one. She was more than happy to use the one that I had brought.

I started using these special band-aids after her third newborn screening. I picked them up at a Christian bookstore for our three older children the day we brought Jayla home from the hospital after her NICU stay.  It was Good Friday, and I needed a few things for the kids’ Easter baskets. I wanted to go to the Christian bookstore, so I could pick up things centered around Christ! These special bandages are called Band Angels. And, they are so adorable. Each one has a scripture printed on them about healing.

The one that she wore yesterday had Jerimiah 30:17 printed on it: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds.  What a great reminder that the Lord is the ultimate healer and physician! I love Him.  I am clinging to His word.  He is my comforter.  This may seem small to so many, but this is big to me.  He has placed Jayla in my care, and I love her so much. If it’s the Lord’s will, I want her to be healthy. No matter the outcome, my wish is for her to live a life that will glorify the Lord. That is our purpose! A lot of times, I fail miserably at letting my light shine, but thank goodness, He hasn’t thrown away the clay. Please pray that her test results come back quickly and that the results will be good ones. Either way, He is our stronghold.   I feel peace knowing that He is in control of our precious baby’s test results!

She loves the elephant Jacob and I got her after her blood work. Our other kids got some M&M’s out of the deal. I am such a softy.

Last night, she slept peacefully with her new giraffe blankie that we also picked out for her. It was such a tough decision because we were trying to bargain shop. Bargain shopping is so hard when there is no price tag on the amount of love each of us holds for her.

John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(I read this verse to Jacob today as I was helping him with his work. I didn’t realize at the time that the Lord would bring me back to it tonight. He knows exactly what we need — exactly when we need it.  His love amazes me!)  Thank you for praying.

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