Monday for Moms - Heartily, as to the Lord

Colossians 3:23 

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"

This past week, we had some sweet friends visit from Chicago. Hyacynth @Undercover Mother

It was the 2nd year they have been able to visit us while they were down this way and we were happy to continue our new tradition. This time her sweet husband was able to join us and mine even took the day off (a rare treat for us). I love it when a plan comes together. 

One of the things we got a kick out of while they were here is that her oldest and our middle boy "took" to each other and their very boyish play style. They even had to take their toy guns to the beach with us, and you'd have thought they were landing at Normandy. They crouched and crawled around, sneaking up on an enemy - only they could see. 

They put their whole hearts into it. They were sold out to the idea that they were little soldiers. Anyone looking on, would immediately know and understand who they were and what they were up to, without a word of explanation. They didn't waste any time worrying about what others might think. They jumped in with both feet, into the thick of their imaginary battle. 

It made us smile to see our little boys playing so well. It was a wonderful example of "little boys being boys". They had no script, yet they knew just what to do - heartily sold out to being soldiers. 

What if we were to put our whole hearts into everything we do just like these little boys? What if we were concerned only with what God thought and didn't worry about what men thought?

I want to serve God in that way. I want to give Him my all in everything I do. Heartily!

Right now that may mean "scrubbing toilets - as to the Lord" or "teaching homeschool - as to the Lord" and "cooking dinner - as to the Lord". Moms make a difference in this way. We are teaching our children how to live. 

It is my desire to show them how to live life "heartily, as to the Lord." 

Colossians 3:23 "Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" 

*This is our bible verse for the week - the boys will write it out in their spiral bible notebooks and we will say it out loud every day - in our homeschool, driving down the road, taking a walk - until they can say it on their own. It is one of the ways we are teaching them God's Word and one of the ways they will learn to live heartily for Him. 

#1000 Gifts and beyond 

sold out little soldiers -special friends- time at the beach - time with Daddy -learning scripture reminders to live heartily for the Lord - opportunity to share - lessons from my children-play time- Monday night bible study on the island - fellowship 

Linking with: Bigger Picture Miscellany Monday  Better Mom  Modest Mom  God Bumps Welcome Home  The Wellspring #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - Hear it on Sunday  Gratituesday   Soli Deo Gloria    From My Mountain View     Titus 2's Days   Raising Mighty Arrows - Good Morning Girls - 1000Gifts   Thankful Thurs Kids in the Word  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Our Christmas this year was spent quietly at home. My parents weren't able to come as they were, like us, down with the flu. Although, being sick isn't our idea of the perfect way to spend any day - much less Christmas - it turned out to be a lovely celebration and sweet family time. 

As the new year approaches, we are finally kicking this terrible illness. Although our camping plans are out of the question for New Years Eve - cold temperatures and getting over the flu doesn't go so well together - we will enjoy another (fairly) quiet evening celebrating together. 

As 2013 draws near I'm thankful for this down time to reflect on the past, to enjoy the memories each special Christmas ornament on our tree represents, like the tiny sea shells we've gathered at our favorite family beach spot, and the sand dollars we've collected. I smile at the memory of finding shells on our honeymoon in Costa Rica, and then turning them into icicles with our firstborn son when he was a toddler. 

That toddler is now 11 years old and we've added 2 more boys to the family. Each year we add some kind of new ornaments to the tree - salt dough ornaments the boys paint themselves, this year the small nests to which we added the eggs and birds to represent the time we spend together exploring creation. The years fly by all too quickly, our boys are growing up fast, and I know it won't be long before I'm looking at the tree ornaments and remembering the time when they were "only" 11,  7 and 8 years old. 

I've been praying for the families in Newport. I cannot imagine how different, and heartbreaking their Christmas was from ours. Praying for them reminds me to be thankful for every moment, even when we are sick or struggling. My main focus for the new year is to savor each day, to savor  the moments that make up the day.

 I want to remember the bigger picture by focusing on the little things - teaching our children to honor the time God has given us by appreciating the time we have together. 

I'm thankful for what we have, thankful for the time to enjoy it. Teaching the boys to appreciate God's blessings, to find the gifts in the little things - is one of the most important lessons we can share with them. We have to be "in the moment" to do that, prepared to look closely and soak in the details. 

Every moment in our lives quickly becomes a memory. I want to work harder to be truly present in those moments. I cannot slow the passing of time, or keep my boys young, but I can savor each moment along the way and celebrate each day with them - celebrate the little things which make up the bigger picture. 

As we are physically recovering from our illness, our celebration of the New Year will include family time - playing with the new basket ball goal, cooking some special treats, and taking a walk in the Myakka Forest, soaking up a bit of sunshine as we discuss what goals the boys have in mind for 2013. Later - there will be sparklers - and we have a tradition of watching the ball drop, unlike the one at midnight, ours drops about 6 p.m. and looks a little something like this: 

Happy New Year Y'all - Savor the moment! 

#1000 Gifts and counting: 

*the little moments *special ornaments gathered over the years *hot chocolate *family traditions *sunset *camera to capture the moment *family favorite foods *games we love *health returning *quiet time of reflection 

Linking with: SoliDeGloria  Bigger Picture Miscellany Monday  Better Mom  Modest Mom  God Bumps Welcome Home  The Wellspring #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - Hear it on Sunday  Gratituesday   Soli Deo Gloria    From My Mountain View     Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows -
Good Morning Girls - 1000Gifts   Thankful Thurs Kids in the Word    Thursday Quick Tip

Adventus Season - free printable Silent Night cursive and print practice

Adventus is the Latin word for "coming" - as in the coming of the Savior. Christmas is coming.There are many different kinds of Christmas traditions to observe. We have tweaked and changed ours over the years to fit our convictions and to follow after what God wants from our family. 

We use it as a time for family, to come together and enjoy each other. We remember past Christmas's and tell stories from when we were children. We sing songs, bake cookies, and play games. The children help fill stockings for those in need. We look for ways to serve at church or visit an elderly friend. We love to make gifts for people we care about. 
We acknowledge that the times are off, that the enemy has had a hand in trying to steal God's glory, even in the birth of our Savior, that holidays all have roots in pagan religions and we press on - looking for ways to give God the glory and keep our focus on Him.  

We don't want to get hung up on whether someone should play Santa Claus or not. That would be their business. We don't spend time deciding who is right or wrong - that would be God's business. We are simply seeking what God wants from us. He is growing each of us for His purpose, if we allow Him to. Our  traditions change along the way along with our ideals.  

What is always the same is that Jesus Chris is the Lamb. We are all sinners, and the price for our sin is death, separation from God. Jesus paid the price and gave us the greatest gift ever given -  in His death on the cross.  As with a Christmas gift, it isn't "earned" or paid for by the recipient - but it is freely given with love. All we have to do is reach out and accept it.  

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent

 His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent 

His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 NKJV)

The 1st "advent" was His birth here on earth.  The 2nd "advent" will be the 2nd coming - and one we must be prepared for. Our hope remains in Him. The real meaning of Christmas.

Many will be doing an Advent calendar in anticipation of the coming of Christmas, teaching children to celebrate the birth of Christ as a baby, and in preparation of His coming again. It's a season marked by anticipation, and preparation, expectation and longing. 

We acknowledge the King of Kings and welcome His return to reconcile a world full of sin and sorrow. The Old Testament tells of a people anticipating the coming of the Messiah, longing for vindication and redemption, from a world of oppression and injustice. The celebration of the coming of our Lord and Savior brings a mixture of great joy and sorrow, as we must fully grasp the meaning - the need for the Messiah in the first place and take it to heart as an individual who is responsible for His sacrifice. He died so that we might live. 

We celebrate His coming, but must simultaneously recognize it's purpose. He came, He suffered, and He died - for us.

 The nativity cannot be separated from the crucifixion. 
Joy and sorrow. Anticipation and hope. He came to die, and rose again. He paid our way.

The modern day beginning of Advent starts off with the "hanging of the green" where boughs of evergreen and wreaths, even trees are brought in to decorate the churches and symbolizes the new and everlasting life through Christ Jesus. 

Thanksgiving is sort of our "kick off" for a season of thanks. It's one that we try to maintain throughout the year, but use the holidays as a special reminder of how important it is to be thankful for the blessings, big and small in our lives and to remember God's great gift. Below you will find a couple of ideas for sharing the significance of the season with your children. 

One of the traditions we enjoy is singing songs, like Silent Night. Below you'll find links to a brief history of the song with the words - and a printable I made for you to teach your children this age old song of the birth of Christ. There is a print version and cursive as well: 

Silent Night - Words and history of the song 

Silent Night - printable - print and cursive to learn the words 

Take part in Truth in the Tinsel with your kids: 
                 
             Click here to view more details
                       (affiliate link)


1000 Gifts and counting: 
* My parents are here and take time to come celebrate Thanksgiving with us 
* Time with my sister and her sweet boys (6 boys between her and I) 
* crazy loud boy time at our house 
* forts in the family room 
* children enjoying bible time together 
* traditional family foods 
* Christmas carols passed down and memories they bring 
* smell of fresh bread baking in the oven 
* comfortable feeling when I'm surrounded by those who know and love me most 
* family jokes and stories told over and again around the table 

linking with: 
Miscellany Monday  Better Mom  Modest Mom  God Bumps Welcome Home  The Wellspring #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - Hear it on Sunday  Gratituesday   Soli Deo Gloria    From My Mountain View     Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows - Good Morning Girls - 1000Gifts   Thankful Thurs Kids in the Word    Thursday Quick Tip   What Works Wed   Works-4-Me  

7 Tools Book Club With Amanda @ThePelsers

Welcome to the 7 Tools Book Club! Today is our official kick-off! Are you ready? All of the details are in these two posts:

• 7 Tools Book Club – You’re Invited
• 7 Tools Book Club – Are you ready?

You’ll find the full reading schedule near the beginning of the 7 Tools Book Club Guide / Journal, which is my free gift for 7 Tools Book Club newsletter subscribers.

8 Book Club Contributors:

  

  

 

Zan Tyler is an incredible author - homeschool advocate - and encourager! 

Get the book here:

 

*Thank you Amanda Pelser for providing most all of the info in this post 

Our family homeschool week - storms, birthdays, and beach oh my!

In my life this week…                                                                                                                          

Tropical Storm Debby has been here - boy has she ever!!! 

We're cooking this week…                                                                                                               

Birthday Cake - Minecraft Cake for my 11 year old (that's hard to get used to!) 

I let go of my "type-A" mom self and everyone pitched in - it was really fun! 

Join us this week…                                                                                                                            

Link up your family Summer fun posts through June and July! 

Favorite thing this week…                                                                                                                 

My oldest turned 11 and I was able to bake him a cake - we all decorated his "minecraft cake" together before enjoying a steak dinner and a walk on the beach! 

Letter of  this week…                                                                                                                           

"S" is for Sunset - I finally did get out for a walk on the beach after days of rain & down time 

Freebies and Fave Resources…                                                                                                         

Great for Summer road trips! 

Storynory   - free audio for kids 

         

The Tortoise and the Elephant         Katie and the Magician of Morocco    Ch 24-Wonderful Wizard of Oz


      


Free 4th of July printables                          Patriotic Ball Game                      Paper PinWheel 


3 in 30 goals …                                                                                                                                      

1. Spiritual-  keeping up with my Prov 31 study and praying for people on my prayer list 

2. Health- my diet is off & I've not been exercising - as a matter of fact I haven't gotten out of bed much in the last couple of weeks - keeping up with the bare minimum - the storms (tropical storm Debby) have not been kind-  visited the Dr's office and have new meds coming to help with energy - I push on!  

3. Organization-  some progress here with paperwork, emails, and our personal schedule - still more to do in the house but hubs has had some time off (because of the storms) and has pitched in to help me (thank you honey!)

Linking with - Holy Spirit Led Homeschool , The Imagination Tree , Creative Family Fun , Read.Explore.Learn. 
Sun Scholars  , Camera Phone Friday, Favorite Resources this Week, Homeschool Freebie Fridays, 

ABC blogging, Collage Friday, 3 in 30 , Look what we did, MOB Society- Lets Hear it 4 the boys