Can it Be?

Can it truly be that my little one is a year old today? It seems only yesterday that I was waddling around with her inside! She is a sweet, funny, smart, talking, walking toddler now! Where did this past year go? She is definitely an Alaskan baby too! Her very first word was “bear” and said with a growling tone! Makes me laugh every time I hear it!

Happy Birthday Sweet Bella Boo! We love you!

Patience, An Exercise in Self-Control

Homeschooling brings many ups and downs.  There are the days that are full of joy because your children seem to really grasp the concepts you are teaching and then there are days when you wonder where the children have placed their brains!  The concepts that seemed so easily grasped the day before have overnight turned into what seems to be a foreign language.  There are days when the children seem to have forgotten things that we have been working on for years!  It is easy to get discouraged, frustrated, and angry.  I have found myself in this situation more times than I would like to admit.

I have often been told that I am a patient person.  I beg to differ with those who say that.  In fact, I think it is one of my weakest areas!  I may indeed be more patient than some but it does not necessarily make me a patient person.  It is something that is a constant battle for me.  I want things done the instant I think of them and I want them done correctly.  I want my children to understand and remember everything the first time I teach it.  I do not want them to not understand.  I do not want to struggle to get the point in a manner they understand, I simply want them to understand.

This sounds a bit unrealistic doesn’t it.  This sadly enough is something I struggle with daily.  Today has been no different.  I have a very grumpy little one who just is being difficult.  I have a kindergartner who just cannot seem to remember that the number ten is written with a one and a zero.  I have an older child who is questioning everything I say.  I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Don’t question–just do!”,  “Quit grumping!”, and “One and zero, One and zero, how many times do we have to go over this!”.

I had a moment in the midst of this today where I paused, took a deep breath, and heard the Lord whisper, “Self-Control.”

I did not yell at my children.  I dealt with them calmly and kindly.  I once again nicely said, “Remember one and zero side by side make 10.”, “Please don’t argue, I really just need you to help me out with this.”, “Come here, I think you need a hug and a cuddle.”.  Chaos was once again averted!  Peace dwells in the house.

If you had seen this scene you might say I was a patient person.  I was indeed exercising patience however it was more than that.  Remember what I said the Lord taught me today?  Patience does not happen alone.  Self-control plays a bit part.  I had to conscienceless make the decision to be patient.  I had to control my urge to be impatient and too loose my temper.  Thankfully, today, I exercised self-control.  That unfortunately is not always the case.  Exercise is not always easy, it is hard work.  It can be tiring!  However, the more we exercise the easier things become.  The more I choose to exercise self-control in  this area of patience the easier it is to do it again.

Then it occurred to me.   How many times does God exercise self-control and patience toward me?  How many times has the Lord had to say to me, “Remember………”, “Please don’t argue I need you to obey.”,”Come unto me.”?  More times than again I would like to admit!  I am so thankful that I did not receive the angry, “Don’t argue, quit grumping, how  many times do I have to go over this!!” from my Lord.

God truly is a loving Father who shows us how to deal with our own children.  He teaches me to love, to be kind, to be patient, and to exercise self-control.  I need only to be obedient and turn to him when I am weak!

Thank you Lord for using the struggles of my day to grow me more into your likeness.  Help me each day to exercise self-control to be patient.

Three Years Ago Today……

This little bundle of joy was born! She was one of our more traumatic births and gave us a big scare in her first two weeks of life but God is so very good! Here she is a beautiful, healthy, BIG girl now!  Happy Birthday Sweetheart!  We love you!

QF Carnival

When people hear about those who believe the Lord is sovereign over the womb and that it is an area in which we are not to intervene, people often think of very large families.  That is not always the case.  In fact, there are many who are only blessed with one child or maybe not even any children.  Some of these families have followed through with adoption and yet still prayerfully leave their own fertility in the Lord’s hands without intervention.

Here are a few links that deal with this very thing.

Visit Kristin at Precious in His Site

Stop by Ann’ Re’s

Pay a visit to From Then to Today

For more Quiverfull links, see the page tab above.

Quiverfull in the Military

I recently received this question from someone who visited my blog.  I will do my best to answer her questions.

I just stumbled upon your blog.  My husband and I have 2 children, (with one on the way).
We fully embrace filling up our quiver, but I’m wondering as a military spouse how you deal with it.
My husband is considering rejoining the Air Force.  He was in for 10 years and we’re both drawn to going in again.  However I’m worried that we will have a harder time raising godly children with Daddy deploying so much.
We are homeschooling family and born again believers.  I know this is probably a lot to ask, but maybe you could do a post or write me back on this topic.  Our children are the most important thing and we want what is best for them.  Thank you for your time.

God Bless,
Julie

This is a hard question to answer because I want to actually give an answer. People often ask me how I “do it” in reference to many things in my life. I really do not know, I just do.

In the short time that we have been in the military we have been  blessed to have my husband around more than some others.  He thus far has only gone on one deployment.  He has taken several TDY assignments that have ranged anywhere from 2-6 weeks long.  When he has been gone, he has been able to call almost every night as well.

Here are a few things that I believe are important to maintain while hubby is away.  You can still raise godly children even if you husband deployed often.

1. God is faithful and He is the one to work in the hearts of your children.   He is the Father to the fatherless.  When my hubby is away I often pray that He would be a father to my children and be even more evident to them when their earthly father is absent.  Prayer is essential.

2. Do not forsake the gathering together of the saints.  In other words, go to church.  It is easy to fall into the temptation of just not getting out and going to church.  Some days it seems it is more work than it is worth, especially on bad mornings trying to get out the door, with a little one crying the whole service, and you are wondering why you went because you missed everything the pastor said.  It is still important to go.  People will be there to pray for you and to minister to you.  It also sets the example and lets your children know where you have placed your priorities (on worshipping the Savior).

3. Continue family devotions and Bible readings.

4. Continue to talk to your children about spiritual matters.

5. Pray with your children daily.  Pray for their father, for you and them at home, and for spiritual growth for each member of the family.

6. Remember it is not all up to you, God is the one who will work in the hearts of your children.   Just be faithful to do all that you can and trust in the Lord for the results.

A Young Man

Well, Happy Mother’s Day to me…..Yesterday my eldest turned 18!  I kind of like having his birthday right next to Mother’s Day, it is a good reminder to me of the blessings the Lord has given me- to celebrate the birth of my oldest in conjunction with Mother’s Day.  He is now 18 and I am wondering where the time went.  I hear people talk about how hard it is when they learn to drive, graduate, or go off to college.  None of those things really bothered me that much but yesterday was a hard day for me.  He is now a legal adult.  That is a pill that is a little bit hard to swallow.  I kept looking at him yesterday and wondering what happened to the raspy voiced, curly blonde headed little boy.  It brought tears to my eyes several times yesterday; all of which I think I hid pretty well though. *grin*

I continue to pray for him the prayer that I have prayed since he was a baby; that he grows into a man that remains steadfast in his faith and seeks to glorify God in all he does.  It is a never ending journey. 

I love you son!