High winds, deep roots

I knew it had been awhile since I had posted, but had no idea it had been that long.

My friends at church have been after me to update the blog. I am soooo sorry that I have not been keeping up. Since our school year has started, and I have been obedient to the early waking hour the Lord called me to (see post called "Methought I heard a voice cry"), I am exhausted at night and have been too tired to think of something to say.

Right now, the wind is blowing very hard. I am watching all the trees out the window, as they dance in the wind. We listen for "CRRRRRRACK!" in this kind of weather. With a 107-year-old house, and even older trees, it can make you a little nervous. I keep thinking, that these trees have seen many storms, and as long as the roots are strong, they can make it through.

We made that analogy in Bible study this past week. We were talking about how God, basically, puts your "spiritual muscles" through a workout now, to get you ready for the real work in the future. I had always heard it said that the strongest trees are the ones that have made it through the toughest storms. But it has a lot to do with the roots.

I want strong roots for my children. Roots that do not give way when the storms of life have them twisting and turning. Of course the best way I know how to do this is a personal relationship with Jesus and a love for the Word of God. We can all tell our children all day how important it is to talk to God, to read His Word, to live like Jesus and to love others, but talk can only get you so far. You will have children with shallow roots. Kids catch on fast to parents that talk one thing and live another, especially when life brings storms.



The best thing I can do for my children is to live out my faith in front of them, the good and the bad of my life. When life is good, they see me praise God for who He is. When life is bad, they see me praise God for who He is. When good things happen, they see me lean on Him. When bad things happen, they see me lean on Him. In all things, they see me look to His Word for guidance.


My older son is a Christian. He accepted the Lord and was baptized this past Christmas Eve. God has begun a good work in him, and is faithful to complete it.


My younger son. He has to quote "Jesus loves me" for his AWANA class. He says "Jesus loves......my brother."

He does like to carry his Bible to church.

We all have to start somewhere.

Gone but not forgotten..........

September 11, 2001.

I got up this morning and turned on the News to see what they were doing in rememberance of that horrible day...........................nothing.

All the networks were going on with programming as usual. FoxNews Channel did have coverage and MSNBC was airing the tapes from that day, but nothing on any other channel.

My oldest son got up and he watched with me. This is the first year I have let him. I explained it all to him as we watched it. He wanted to know why people would help to hide the person that organized all of this. A hard question to answer. It was a morning full of hard questions.

I called my dad, the newsaholic, to ask if he had seen any more coverage. Sadly, no he had not.

Have people forgotten? Or does it still upset them and they just pretend it didn't happen? Or do they not care? I don't have an answer.

I had to explain to my son about people not liking the United States, but this is my explanation...

The idea of freedom is nothing that the United States came up with. It is from God. This idea of freedom is what upsets people. They want to force others into their way of thinking through hatred and death. The problem is not with them and the US. The problem is with them and God's idea of freedom. Our nation's founders based the nation on God's principles, and now we have to defend those ideas.

We remember.

"With great price, obtained I this freedom." Acts 22:28

One hand in the air, one on the wheel!!!

Tuesday was my first day back to Bible study for the fall. They started without me last week while I was on vacation, but I am sure it was not as much fun..

I was excited to get back on my normal schedule of Tuesday morning study, and to see all the ladies. So much so, that I went twice on Tuesday.

We have a morning study group and an evening study group. These pictures are of both of the groups. I lead Stepping Up in the morning, and the pastor's wife leads Breaking Free. She leads Stepping Up in the evening, and our friend leads Breaking Free. I said that I missed seeing everyone, so I went back to see everyone at night.

Of course, it never hurts to hear Beth Moore twice in one day.

I went in with the music blog entry in my mind and was blown away by the teaching on singing and praise. It was definitely what I needed to hear that day.

I left church to run errands and put Chris Tomlin in my CD player and sang praises all over Monroe. I do that a lot. I think all of Monroe thinks I am waving at them.

So, if you see the red van with the Lee Park sticker bouncing along the road.....it is me, one hand in the air, one on the wheel!!

God Gave the Song

There is a song that Bill & Gloria Gaither wrote many years ago called "God Gave the Song." I love the song. The lyrics are wonderful, take a look:

You ask me why my heart keeps singing

Why I can sing when things go wrong

But since I've found the source of music

I just can't help it.

God gave the song.

Come walk with me thru fields and forests

We'll climb the hills and still hear that song

For even hills resound with music

They just can't help it.

God gave the song.

Narration: Yes, God gave the song. It's always been with us. The song came into our world through a manger in Bethlehem. It was a simple song -- a simple lovely song for every man. Right from the first, some tried to ignore it. They said, "There's no song! It simply doesn't exist." Others just tried to change the tune. They made laws to stop it. Armies marched against it. They killed some who sang the song. They creamed at it in fury, they tried to drown it out. Finally they nailed that song to a tree. They said to themselves, 'There . . . that should take care of that.' But it didn't.

What's that I hear, I still hear that music

Day after day, that song goes on.

For once you know the source of music,

You'll always hear it.

God gave the song.

Come on and join, it's the song of Jesus

Day after day, that song goes on.

For once you know the source of music,

You'll always hear it.

God gave the song.

I always liked the song as a child. As an adult, I looked for backup music for a special at church and could not find anything.

I looked on the internet for the lyrics and in the same search found a Greek word study of "Logos." It is usually translated as the "word" or "Word", as used in John 1, when describing Jesus. But, this is where this song really gets you. The root word, legein, can be translated as "sound" or "word".....or song. So, John 1 could start......

"In the beginning was the Song, and the Song was with God, and the Song was God."

Just something to think about.

My friend Ryan started a blog about God and the music of your life. He and I share the same tastes in music. I warned him that I had two music blog posts in my head, that I was not stealing ideas. Take a look at his blog, you will be blessed...songofyourlife.blogspot.com

School Days, School Days.......

Our school year started today.

We had a really good day. My oldest son started 3rd grade. Until this grade, we have followed a more leisurely pace to our school. He is getting older now and capable of a lot more. He will be getting it.

It took me a while to introduce him to all the new "stuff." For all my homeschool friends, I'll tell you what we are using (we like to be nosy about that kind of stuff!!) We started Easy Grammar 3, Daily Grams 3, Spelling Workout B, Math-U-See Gamma, A Reason for Handwriting T, and Tapestry of Grace Year 1. He is also taking a "Discovering God's World" science class. We will use our AWANA for Bible. Right off the bat, I realized that I don't like the spelling for him. We didn't even write in the book, I will be selling it.

I am very excited about our Tapestry of Grace. We will be learning about history from Creation to the Fall of the Roman Empire this year. It is a Christian, classical education model using unit study approach. It covers history, church history, literature, geography, fine arts, government & philiosophy in later years, and writing & composition. All of it is centered around the idea of the Tapestry of Grace woven throughout time by the hand of God. God is sovereign in all things and will use all to His glory! What a way to teach my kids!!!

My youngest son will be doing some preschool work also. He did some work with the letter "A" today, and made me take his picture five times with it. He is doing some Christian Light preschool books and loving them! He likes to sit at the big table with his brother. He works in spurts.....works for a while, and then plays.....then comes back, and then plays again. He was very excited to start school too.

I am excited about all this new curriculum. But, as I sat at the table today, I was overcome with thankfulness. I am thankful that I get to be there when they learn new things....when the lightbulb goes on and they "get it." As I listened to my son read, I see the progress from the days I taught him the sounds the letters make. As I watch him multiply, I remember the days we added 1+1. As I watch my younger son work at the table, I remember the days we didn't know if he could ever walk.

I rejoice in what the Lord has done in their lives.

I am glad He allowed me to be there.

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Happy Birthday!

Today is my husband's birthday. For the next month and 23 days he is older than me, and I will not let him forget it.

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I told him that it seems like yesterday that I met him. But then again, I don't remember not knowing him. I am sure you know what I mean.

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Our wedding vows said "I take you as a gift from God." Those words mean more with each passing year.

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I love that he makes me laugh.

I love that he works hard to take care of us.

I love that he is a wonderful father.

I love that he is a godly example for his boys to follow.

I love to watch him grow in the Lord.

I love his servant's heart.

I love that he loves God more than me.

I love that he is my best friend.

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I did not know the real gift I had.

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Happy Birthday!

My annual review

These are my three boys. We took our family vacation last week and went to the beach to my parents' beach house. We usually take our vacation the week that all the schools start--one of the perks of homeschooling!

The boys played in the sand and tidal pools. They played in the pool. They played together at the house. We had a really good time as a family.

The last afternoon we were there, we stayed at the ocean all afternoon. We were the only ones out there.

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I always sit there on the last day and just watch and think. I think I am trying to make snapshots in my memories for later years. I want to remember the boys at this age and how much fun they have together. Next year will be different, they will be a year older....and so will I... and they will be different. It is a little sad to think about, but it is part of life.

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I sit in my chair and have a conversation with God. I even talk outloud sometimes. The ocean is loud, and with the wind blowing no one else can hear. I praise Him and sing. I thank Him for the time we have as a family. I thank Him for the honor and privilege of being a wife and mother. It may be my own version of my "yearly job evaluation" ......what am I doing right?? what am I doing wrong?? what do I need to change?? There is always something that needs changing or I need to be doing better.

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But you know what never changes..........Him. He is always faithful. He is always the same. He loves me and praise Him, His mercies are new every morning. I don't have to wait until next August. I can meet Him every day.

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"The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness."

Lamentations 3: 22-23