Catching the Sparkles

Black & White

2007-03-28T18:46:00.000-04:00

I love my new laundry room!

They're Everywhere!

2007-03-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

But they're kinda' cute!

Bound to Envy

2006-12-04T11:56:00.000-04:00

God has a Grand Plan, and His work is coming together nicely, right on schedule. It’s so exciting to catch even a glimpse of His grand scheme.

“Did God reject his people?
By no means!
Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?
Not at all!
Rather, because of their transgression,
salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
Israel has experienced a hardening in part
until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved.

How much more readily will these,
the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree!
As far as election is concerned,
they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

God has bound all men over to disobedience
so that he may have mercy on them all.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
of God!”
From Romans 11 (NIV)

Seeking vs. Indifference

2006-06-15T00:40:00.000-04:00

Zephaniah 1:12, 2:3 NIV
“At that time I will...punish those who are complacent,
who are like wine left on its dregs,
who think [punished for wrong thinking],
‘The LORD will do nothing,
either good [thinking He doesn’t care about me] or bad.’”
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.”

Matthew 22:4,5,14 NIV “...Come to the wedding banquet.
But they paid no attention [disdain for his generosity]
and went off—one to his field, another to his business
[too busy to research whether this was too good to miss]...
The king was enraged...
many are invited, but few are chosen
[few think it’s worth the effort].”

James 4:2 NIV “You want something but don’t get it...
You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

Seeking

2006-06-13T15:16:00.001-04:00

Are you absolutely convinced that God’s love is focused on you personally?

Do you think of Him as a loving God, caring for the masses, but rather busy for just you? Or do you think He’s waiting for better performance from you? Have you forgotten what you once knew? Have you ever wrestled for an answer to know what His love is like? Are you certain of its dimensions and properties? Are you prepared for what you will find? Are you willing to leave the answer to someone else? What if you find out you missed out on the greatest thing ever, but you hadn’t bothered to go searching? What if He’s been seeking you out and you didn’t notice? What if you only had to ask Him?

A Shot in the Arm

2006-06-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

The principal and I are going to a homeschool convention for the next two days. I’m looking forward to the seminars, shopping for used curriculum, and seeing familiar faces in the crowd. The previous two years have been very inspiring, so I’m hoping to get a clearer, renewed vision for the next school year.

Keeping it Together

2006-04-02T23:38:00.000-04:00

I have a penchant, an obsession, a gift, or something like that: I like getting organized. I have learned that it doesn't take much chaos to make me too woozy to function properly. So, it's practically a hobby for me to work on things that make my life more tidy. I was asked to have an organizing workshop at the Women's Retreat this weekend, so I thought I'd share the bounty with everyone. Feel free to use or change these forms for your use. Send the royalties to my Manager!

Household Management Forms:

Filing Categories
Grocery List
Holiday Plans
Medical Record Form
Notebook Cover
Open Projects Sheet
Price Comparison Form
Scheduling Charts
School Log
Future Projects Sheet
Tithe Worksheet
Trip Plans

Helpful Websites:

cindyrushton.com/articles.html
donnayoung.org
flylady.com
organizedhome.com
titus2.com

The Day I Got Really Angry

2006-03-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

by Timothy

I was feeling just fine, but then I just HAAAD to drop my schoolbooks and my pencil. And then I got really angry because I had to bend down and PICK THEM UP!!! And then Mamma called me, and that made me MORE angry because she called me. Mamma asked me if that ruined my whole day, but it only ruined most of my day.

In a class by himself

2006-03-13T14:10:00.000-04:00

I'd like you to meet one of my most promising young students. He has all the classic signs of genius, except that he is very friendly. Any advice?

Shalom

2006-03-04T00:30:00.000-04:00

My friends, shalom!

Today, I cooked up a storm and then took my daughter to the Art Show. I'll let her tell you about the results : ) This evening finds me on a mini-retreat. I really been needing some time to be alone and not be on call for awhile. As I was driving away, I was delighting in the solitude and thanking God for this opportunity. Just as I was climbing into the pool for a quick dip, someone said, "Is that you, Brenda?" Solitude NOT! It was my cousin who lives two hours from here, along with about 25 homeschoolers - in the area for a basketball tournament. Thankfully, this unexpected intrusion into "my" alone time didn't hit me all wrong, and I had an encouraging conversation with another homeschool mom. Our Heavenly Planner sure has a sense of humor!

To Life!

2006-02-21T13:13:00.000-04:00

Last night, in my chocolate-induced state of semi-sleep, this thought interrupted my delirium: "Wow! I'm going to live forever!"

Yeah!

My Treasures

2006-02-17T19:02:00.000-04:00

This is our first year of homeschooling all our kids. It has been a big adjustment for our family, though things are settling in...well, most things, anyway. And there are some really good things happening, too, like sibling friendship. Have you ever spotted one of these rarities – in real life?

On a warm day at the end of January, my boys wanted to do their work up in the tree. They didn’t get a lot done up there, what with pencils falling and no writing surface. I indulged them for a long time, though, until one of them climbed up to about 40 feet. At that height, someone might drive by and think I was “one of those homeschool moms.” Gasp! I must remember to let them do crazy things only after public school hours.

To see and be heard

2006-02-12T17:41:00.000-04:00

So basic! What a joy to communicate with other created beings!

I'll try to speak up . . . my teachers were always asking me to repeat things. In my teens, a helpful lady gave me this great tip: "Pretend you're yelling at your brother!" I really think I have improved on my volume, though. My kids are my witnesses.