Planning Continues

In November I wrote this post, Home School Planning Begins Now about how our home school planning begins and moves forward. To give all of you a little bit of an update, our planning is moving forward. Yesterday I had asked my daughter HJ to look at books based on "Russia," "India," "Wars," "Prussia," & "The Effects of Nuclear Radiation." Of course, she found the Catherine and Anastasia from the Royal Diaries. She already has Jahanara from India, so we didn't need to look at that one.

How do we come up with our topics to study? Usually something comes up where we have a conversation about a topic and it comes to our attention to add that particular topic needs to be covered more in depth. This year we will revisit Wars in general. We've already covered the Revolutionary War quite extensively as well as the changes in munitions over the years with each new war. (What can I say? My boys enjoy studying munitions.) So next school year we'll study wars, but the political aspects as well as the people involved, famous names and what those people did and perhaps some biographies of those people. Right now the children have been fascinated by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon Bonaparte (only because our little dog, Biscuit, exhibits a "Napoleonic Complex!" LOL)

Today I hope to get one of the boys on the computer to look up books for themselves according to their likes and dislikes. It certainly makes for an interesting challenge for me!

In Sickness and in Health

Jeremiah 31:3

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, 

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: 

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” 

Being sick is a wonderful time to draw nearer to the Lord.  I don't know if you can tell by my last few posts, but sickness has taken up residence in a variety of forms in our home.  Fortunately, we feel the Lord's healing touch on each one of us.  He calls us to Him in those quiet times of sweet reflection when we're well, often times we call out for Him when in a kneeling position emptying our stomach. (I know...TMI).  The position itself--in sickness or in health--gives each one of us reason to pray.  It is a position of humility, so why not take advantage of it?  Mopping, cleaning up messes on the floor or kneeling in front of the toilet....

...for these reasons, He must have placed those circumstances in our lives to give us the opportunity to talk with Him.  Why not take advantage of it?

Music Therapy

No other "therapy" will do, but music for the soul.  No, my day hasn't been stressful, but quite the opposite actually.  It's just time for music therapy for the soul.  Here is a couple I've enjoyed.

Jesus Friend of Sinners

Praise You in the Storm

Cry Out to Jesus

Please feel free to enjoy these songs much like I have.  Each one of us has our own very personal reasons to "Cry Out to Jesus."

Going Slower

As I've elaborated in this post, when Momma is sick, things go by the wayside and just the basics get done.  The past few days have been that way.  I have an upper respiratory infection that is causing me to collapse and need hours of sleep.  Fortunately, my kids know what to do to get the running of the house taken care of.  Sure there are some things that go by the wayside, but the important things get done like dishes and laundry.  Then we rest as a family because chances are good that the bug has entered our house and it will hit others, much like my oldest son who is now laying on the couch watching "The Encounter-Paradise Lost."  The fire is roaring, it's cold enough outside that the trucks and other vehicles are going slower.  It kind of reminds me of me right now--needing to go slower, to heal.

Washing Away the Hurt and Pain

Ephesians 4:17-19  "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." [emphasis mine]

This was highlighted in my husband's Bible the day he went to talk with our pastor.  His Bible was laying open in the living room, on top of his laptop which was perched on top of the little office trash can, much like a mini-desk type pedestal.

Later that afternoon, over his soup, after having been confronted by our pastor about his salvation--he is "without excuse" (Romans 1:20)--he dropped to his knees in the middle of the living room and gave his life over to Jesus Christ and asked Him into his heart.

Thus began the washing away of the old man and the new man began to emerge.  

With everything in life, we need to face the consequences of our actions, even if those actions are "pre" salvation.

With the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ, forgiveness and love has been granted, the road to recovery begun...although it will be a long and arduous road at times I'm sure.  Trust has begun the rebuilding process and a new life and heart and a different and lovely peacefulness has emerged.  Smiles have replaced most of the sadness.  Contentment and joy have settled in.  

The hurt and the pain are still there.  The scars from those years of things happening take time to heal.  Thankfully, the hurt and the pain are gradually, bit-by-bit, being washed away and hearts are being re-knit together in a new and different way.

Tonight we begin our path toward our Christian walk "together"---NOT  UNequally Yoked.  Our pastor suggested we do a study together called Classic Christianity by Bob George [it's on my book reading list].  Right now we've taken a look at the book and the study guide together to figure out the best method of approaching this study.  This particular study is different from every other study I've undertaken personally.  Usually I've looked at the study guide, looked at the book and jumped right in reading the book--entire chapters at a time--before doing the study guide.  Then if I needed to look back at the book I could.  That method doesn't seem to fit any longer.  Now it seems more that we cover sections of each chapter, go over the questions relating to that section, and discuss.  We would not cover chapters each night, not breezing through the book in record time, but savoring it, slowly methodically, together.  All of this while we build our relationship's spiritual qualities, together, like we'd never done before.

What a blessing!

1 Peter 3:8-17  

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  (9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  (10)  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  (13)  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  (14)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  (15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  (16)  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  (17)  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.  

2013 Book Reading List

I've been looking at books I'd like to read this coming year, some that I'd like to buy to read, some that our pastor has suggested that my husband I read together in a study and some for my own personal growth.  Mind you, this list is in no way exhaustive.  There are  many books that are there because I just didn't get to them last year.  However, know that my reading list still continues with great resolve.

I've added a section on Healthy Living.  The books I've listed there are based on my own personal health issues, like PCOS and the Paleo Cookbooks which I'm finding that gluten and grains are linked to PCOS.  For those of you who do not know, PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  With the way the government has pushed the food pyramid in times past where you're supposed to get all these servings per day of breads, grains, rices and pasta, many people have blindly followed the government's suggestions to their own detriment, your's truly as well.  I have taken much of the grain out of my own diet this past year and I've lost 35.5 pounds and I'd lost 34.5 inches off my body in 2012.

I plan to continue on this lifestyle because I feel so much healthier.  Do I still eat bread?  Yes!  Once a week I'll have a Sandwich Round with lots of veggies and meat or I'll have multigrain nachos.  Why so few grains? I'll delve in to that another day on my Created to Eat Naturally blog.  :0)

If anyone has any suggestions or questions, please let me know.  You can also email me if you'd like.  My email address is in pink on the left side bar, just add the symbols.

Philemon 1:3 

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

An Interesting Result...

Ever since this post, I have found myself physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.  My Mr. G and I have been talking about so many things now and it is exhausting!  I've been so used to stuffing my emotions down deep inside me for so long and putting myself out there, being transparent about my thoughts and feelings is T.O.U.G.H. work!  We're praying together, planning little day trips here and there together, with hopefully some time away together AND he's trying to get the week of VBS off work to help!    What a blessing!!!

I sat on my bedroom floor today going through books since we removed the book shelf from in there and I sat there crying out to God, being so very thankful for my husband's salvation after praying for him for so many years.  But I also sat there in disbelief at how exhausted I was.  I'm letting go of a lot of the weight from my own shoulders.  After having carried those responsibilities for so long, he's rightly taking the helm and while it is a relief for me, I'm finding that I can sleep every afternoon for a couple of hours.  I had pulled myself out of that routine with my diet and exercising, but the letting go of the hurt is so freeing.  With that freedom comes relaxing and relaxing moves so very naturally to rest and sleep.

Rest assured, I'm not going to become the next female Rumpelstiltskin.   However, I'm glad for the peace, for the rest and most of all for my husband's salvation!  :)  If you don't see me posting for a bit, I'm probably schooling my kids, getting to know the spiritual side of my husband (and reveling in it), or sleeping.


Matthew 11:28-30 " Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

When One Spouse Has Been UnSaved

Disclosure Statement:  This post is real, brutally, gut wrenchingly honest and posted WITH permission by my husband.  You will laugh, you will probably cry---much like I have.  And, most likely, you will rejoice to see what wonderful work God has done.  And, this is long, so bear with me.

Ideally, when two Christian people come together, agree to be married and fall in love, they are what Christian circles call "evenly yoked."  In an ideal world, this is what that marriage would simulate--

The work done together is for glorifying God and the couple moves closer together as they move closer to God.

When one has an UNsaved spouse, things look a bit differently, and each situation will be just a bit different with different circumstances.  But much of what you'll see is excuses, whether valid excuses or not, they're still there.  Sometimes the excuses are selfish pride based.  Other times they are timing based like, "When I retire", "When the kids are out of the house" and infinitum.

Then, there are the times when the Lord chooses to "prune" the other spouse.  Yes, the "saved" spouse gets worked on by God.  Yes I'm still looking back and trying to make sense of it all.  But, the best I can tell,

John 15:2  He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. [emphasis mine]

How does a Heavenly pruning sound?  That is EXACTLY what it took for me to surrender.  I had a ruptured disc in my lower lumbar area.  The gelantinous material oozed out in a way that it just barely touched the left side of my spinal cord and caused me to be on my hands and knees in pain for 48 hours.  No shots would help, no chiropractic care would help, no hot water, ice pack, nothing would help.  I called the assistant pastor who brought 5 other people who prayed over me at 8:30PM on February 4th, 2001.  At 8:37PM, I got up and stood without pain.  God was teaching me, molding me and showing me through that circumstance that not only did He love me, but He loved me enough to discipline me to bring me in to submission to His will for my life.  He even gave me some not so lovely reminders--"zingers" I called them.  I'd always get them when my heart and mind were not so lovely toward my husband.  Contrary to what one might think, almost 12 years later, I still get them.  It isn't as often, but I'm glad for the painful reminders.  Yes, I said that.  Yes, I am stubborn.  I come from a long line of stubborn Irish folks.  LOL

You see, I begged God for the first 11 years of our marriage to change my husband.  When I read The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian, the first chapter was about "His Wife".  That's when I "got it."  I needed to be willing to change, to be molded, pruned and so forth to bring forth much more abundant fruit.  Now, some people might call me "Fruit Loopy", but that's ok.  Go ahead, I can handle it.  Yes, I've made mistakes.  No, I'm not perfectly humbled, pruned or submitted.  I was the saved one who was praying.  That's all God had to work with because I was as rebellious as they came, complete with the mouthy bitter attitude.  Just this week I found myself apologizing to my husband for putting up with me and being such an awful stumbling block for him.  I was not the epitome of a Proverbs 31, Titus 2 or 1 Peter 3 woman at all, but just the opposite!

I could just imagine God looking down on us and saying, "Oh dear, this will never do!  I'm going to have to do some pruning before I can give her the desires of her heart."

 Why?  Well, the best I can tell, it is because the humility [forced at times where situations were beyond my own control and I had to just surrender and pray for God's protection for myself and my children], and meek and quiet spirit needed to endure the years of spiritual unrest, gut wrenching torturous spiritual battle needed to continue.

Did I say that?  

Yes, I did.  

The past two months have been so very torturous for me.  My husband has been addicted to online games, ignoring all of us until his needs of "get me a cup of coffee/water/food" from the kids or intimacy from me needed to be filled.  After he'd leave for work, I'd just cry my eyes out begging God to help me.  I know I felt much like a robot, going through the motions, just getting the every day things done and not much joy, unless it was in my kids and their antics or going to worship, Bible Study or Choir/Bell Choir practice for the holiday season.  Since he works in the afternoons, the practices were almost always then.

What a balm for my soul!  I so needed it!  

Little did I know, the darkest time would come on Christmas day...



...if you would like to read the rest of this story, please email me privately.  My email address is in the left side bar (just add symbols).

This is just the beginning of the story of God's work in our lives.  It's very long and Mr. G doesn't mind sharing it, so please feel free to email me!

Rejoice With Us!!!

After 23 years of praying for him, my Mr. G accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior on December 30th, 2012 while sitting alone at the table and praying over his soup.

And if that were not enough, JL and HJ are getting baptized THIS coming Sunday at church.

Many things to PRAISE GOD for!

Gardens

For the past couple of days, with the new year turning it's page, I've been thinking of gardens, pouring over catalogs that have come in the mail and thinking on some of the beautiful flower gardens I've seen.

Country Farm Lifestyles

Red Dirt Ramblings

Cornell University Flower Gardening Basics

The pictures remind me of the scripture--

Song of Solomon 4:12  "My sweetheart, my bride, is a secret garden, a walled garden, a private spring;"

It amazes me how much literary symbols appear in scripture.  I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise since God is the author.

I absolutely love beautiful flowers, tending them and enjoying their scent as the days go by.

Of course with any garden, you have the clowns.  LOL

Here is another one I find it interesting to consider:

Song of Solomon 2:15  "Catch the foxes, the little foxes, before they ruin our vineyard in bloom."

from Dino Boff

Little foxes?  Yup!  We must be very careful not to let those little foxes in to ruin an area or two in our garden.

Below is a wonderful book that explains the relationship between the garden enclosed and a Godly marriage better than I ever could~