Needing TRUTH

This home schooling path is not an easy one for me. Frankly, motherhood is not easy for me. Some days I face it with determination and strength from the Lord. Other days, like today, I really struggle to believe the truth about myself and my children. Today, each poor choice that has been made by my children and by me screams, "You are a failure!" My emotions seem to get in the way of any rational thought and I find myself behaving like a toddler. Oh God, why did you make me so sensitive and over emotional!?!?! Why do I have to feel things so deeply? Or maybe it's just pre-menopausal hormones? yikes!

There have been lots of tears today and lots of crying out to God. Grieving another hard school day and wondering how to deal with some ugliness cropping up my in children's hearts. I don't have any answers concerning our future home schooling. I don't have any great parenting wisdom. The only thing I have is a God who loves me despite my sin and I'm needing to cling to that today... even though I'm tempted not to.

So, I share this all on here just in case there is someone else out there who can relate. To give a clearer picture of life over here and to be honest about life not being perfect. However, I'm not blind to the fact that there are others who face greater challenges and trials.  I just want to be sure that I don't fool you in to thinking I've got it all together, because I don't. I certainly don't snap photos of the undesirable moments unless I can make a joke about it later.

And really what I need is to preach the truth to myself:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust in your strength." Isaiah 30:15


"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2


"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." Romans 8:28


"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 


"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6

I am no longer a slave to my sin. He has set me free! He is renewing me and changing me as I repent for my sin. It is He who gives me strength. My identity is not in being a mother or teacher of my children. My identity is in Christ.  Amen!

** Oh and a last minute realization... my kids are sinners too. Why am I so surprised when they sin?
Lord, give me strength to love and offer forgiveness to the boys. Help me to train them and reach their hearts. Help me to teach them to follow Your ways. Help me to model humility, repentance and forgiveness. Thank you that they rest in your mighty hands! Thank you that You are always with us. 

Family Service

We start them early around here doing chores. 

As soon as they can hold a broom they are expected to chip in with the housework!

I wonder who this little over achiever takes after? 

And no, I definitely do not miss our old kitchen floors that were once white but stained yellowish. 

Sometimes, they just walked around holding the broom looking cute and escaped their chores. 

It's all about the attitude. Cleaning is FUN!

It's a little tricky for Mom and Dad to use the shortened swiffer.

Lots of bending over required, but it's worth it if the kids do their part. 

And no clothing required! (JUST KIDDING!!!) :)

Hopefully you know I'm just kidding, but I do think there is great value in teaching the boys early to participate in keeping the house clean. I prefer to call it family service instead of chores. 

"Chores" just seems to have a negative connotation and I think it's great to teach them the value in serving their family.

So, here is where I need your help or prayers. It's a new year and we need a new family service system. We've tried many different methods, some of which have been very successful for a time and others that failed pretty quickly. 

Here are my thoughts and goals:

1) There are certain jobs around here that are expected of them just for being in our family. Most (NOT all) of the time they actually do a pretty good job of doing these jobs because it's become habitual.  (cleaning floor under the table after a meal, clearing their dishes, setting the table, emptying the dishes and silverware, putting away their laundry, etc.) Obviously Aaron (being 3) has less expected of him.  I need a system for assigning the boys their daily jobs. I've tried pocket wall charts and weekly schedules printed out and marked with stickers. Maybe I should revisit one of those? Any other ideas?

2) There are certain extra jobs that they should do when asked, but they are more above the daily stuff. I'm comfortable with rewarding them with a small allowance for completing these jobs (and have done so in the past). Jobs like: windexing windows, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning toilets, cleaning mirrors, cleaning stainless steel fridge, etc.  Trying to figure out if it's best to do it day by day or have a set cleaning day that we all work together. We've tried both. Any thoughts?

3) I want to set up a system that once set up is easy to manage and I'll be able to follow through with. 

4) I like the idea of cleaning being a team effort... especially since we're here all the time and put a lot of wear and tear on the house. I think we would all appreciate a cleaner living space. I want to teach them the value and discipline of keeping things clean and that takes effort! At times it feels so much easier if I do it myself, but I'm determined to patiently teach them what they are capable of learning. 

SO... do YOU have any methods you'd like to share? Any books or websites you can recommend? I'd love to hear what works for you.  I'll be sure to share what we decide to do. 

* Can you tell which boy is which in the photos above? :)

Should have known

Whose idea was it to get Aaron a football helmet for Christmas? Ahem... that would be me. (grimace)
I should have known this is what would happen. I left the boys happily playing in their bedrooms on Monday afternoon while I did some work in the school room.

And then I heard the hooting and hollering and loud thumps.

I raced upstairs to find them in their football "uniform" running some plays in our bedroom! Of course I had to take a few pictures before I discouraged them from throwing their football and tackling one another inside the house.  "It's just a small ball, Mommy." "We're not really throwing it hard." oh my! And no... nothing broke this time.

It's a little blurry from all their movement!

Gotta love the school spirit! Go Hokies!

* And just to clarify... I love that they were bonding together and having a great time. 

Just a little nervous about them getting hurt and/or breaking something inside (again!) :)

More of Him in 2012

I've never been one to come up with New Year's resolutions and I'm not sure why. No big philosophical reason, I've just never done it. However, this year I decided that I wanted to come up with a theme Bible verse for the new year. A verse that I could memorize, meditate on and learn from. Sort of a spiritual goal for the coming year.

So, I sat down this week to pick a verse. I opened my Bible and I wasn't sure where to turn. Since I studied  many Psalms this summer and really enjoyed it, I decided to turn there. I began skimming through some Psalms praying that God would lead me to a verse that captured my hearts desire. I wanted to find a verse about drawing closer to God and so I continued looking and praying. And then, as I was reading in the Psalms a verse popped into my head. I knew it was from the Bible because I had heard it before, but it wasn't on the page in front of me and I couldn't remember when I read it last. I did a quick search online and found it in Isaiah. I am certain that God laid this verse on my heart and this excites me!

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." Isaiah 30:15


I'm slowly beginning to unpack this verse and understand it in it's context, but the six key words in this verse are perfect: repentance, rest, salvation, quietness, trust and strength.

I went back to the beginning of the chapter and using some commentaries tried to understand better who this verse was written to and why. The verse actually continues with one more phrase, "...but you would have none of it." This passage is written to a wicked generation who is being exposed for their rebellious ways. They did not heed and hear what was spoken to them from God, and the result was not good. According to one of the commentaries that I read, it is written as a warning to others not to live as these wicked men did. The Lord told them that if they turned toward Him in repentance and away from their evil ways, if they submitted themselves to the Lord's will they would be saved! He told them that as "their spirits were calm before Him and in continual dependance on Him and His power and goodness"* then they would have strength.

This is significant to me. Over the last year, I have learned a lot about the importance of repentance in my relationship with God. It's not a one time thing. It is a daily, moment by moment experience of repenting for my sin. I've learned that as I study His word and read of His goodness and faithfulness, then I am able to more fully trust Him with the day in and day out challenges I face. He offers me salvation. He offers me strength. He has given me His love letter, the Bible. I love this!

The one other word that jumps out at me is quietness. (less complaining, less gossiping, less hurtful words, less of me ... more calmness, more dependance, more peace, more strength, more Him!)

I am excited to look back a year from now and see examples of His faithfulness. To see how He is teaching me more and more to trust Him and draw near to Him. I'm so thankful that He led me to this verse and ready for more of Him in 2012!

*Matthew Henry's Commentary

Grandma and Grandpa's

On Wednesday mid-day we left for Grandma and Grandpa's house in Pennsylvania. That evening we gathered for a pot-luck dinner with Darin's sister's family, his cousins, and aunts and uncles. Some of these folks we only get to see once a year, so it's a special time of visiting and catching up.

Darin playing with the kiddos.

Enjoying the awesome fire in the fireplace on this chilly day. 

 The extended family gathering and annual gift exchange.

 The annual Christmas brunch (and my silly boys!)

Grandma was very patient and read LOTS of stories to the boys. :)

We had a good time visiting with both sides of our families, but this introvert was glad to get home Friday night! phew! Now who wants to come help fold laundry and un-decorate!?! :) 

So thankful for the boys being happy travelers and having minimal traffic on our return home.

Over the river and through the woods...

... to Grammy and Poppy's house we go!

We gathered at my parents house with my older brother and his family to celebrate Christmas from Monday through Wednesday. (Smooches and hugs to my little brother and his family in Canada!) It was bitter sweet since it will likely be the last Christmas in my childhood home.  Back in 1970, my parents bought an antique house (built in the 1800's) They have spent the last 40 years refurbishing and renovating it, mostly by themselves. It is really beautiful, but they are excited to move forward to owning a home that requires less maintenance. They are hoping to relocate to Virginia in 2012!

My parents real Christmas Tree and the traditional Christmas village. As long as I can remember, my parents have had the tree platform and set up the village. It's really pretty!

Getting ready to enjoy a Christmas meal. 

On Tuesday we went to a nearby horse farm with my dad and got to visit Willy the horse. 

We all had a chance to give Willy a snack of some apple. Ethan was in heaven!
It was pouring rain outside so we couldn't do any riding. 

Aaron was not so sure. Notice his hands in his pockets! His expression is priceless!

Ethan found a new friend.

The littlest boys watching the fire together on Wednesday morning. 

Jumping cousins!

Next stop... Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

Christmas Day

Has it really been a week since Christmas day?! We enjoyed our day home celebrating as a family before we hit the road to visit with our extended family on Monday. We've been really mindful of trying to keep Jesus the focus of our celebrating... a tricky endeavor in this world we live in. I've been really conflicted about the materialism that tempts me and the boys this time of year, but that's a serious post for another time. :) We are very blessed and I'm thankful that we could give generously and thoughtfully. My prayer is that they learn the joy that comes from giving to others. And that the ultimate gift is Jesus dying for us on the cross!

On Christmas morning, the boys let us sleep until 7am. (a rare treat for me!) 

Our tradition is to give the boys each three gifts, just as the wise men brought three gifts to baby Jesus. Luke decided we should open the gifts youngest to oldest because he could be the most patient. ;) Here are a few of our favorite shots from the morning. 

Aaron was SOO thrilled to open his very own Virginia Tech football helmet and jersey. 

The jersey was a little big, so Ethan tried it on for him. 

He was quick to change into his football outfit. :) 

He and I spent time outside in the afternoon tossing his football. 

 Ethan received his first big Lego set... the Lego farm. Perfect for my little animal lover!

He was thrilled and I'm so proud of him for being to put it together all by himself. 

We also got him a microscope so he could study little creatures. (This will be fun for all of us.)

And for my Lego lover extraordinaire...a lego cargo train. 

We also found Electronic Snap Circuits in a catalog and it was a huge hit. 

His little brain loves building the projects and seeing the outcome. (a blowing fan, an AM radio, etc.) 

This is super cool if you have a kid who loves figuring out how things work and taking things apart!

We had a late breakfast of sausage/egg casserole and homemade "ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls" before heading off to church. The rest of the day zipped by as the boys enjoyed their new toys while Darin and I packed for our travels. I'm thankful for the memories we made as a family this Christmas.