Teach

O, what a beautiful morning, O, what a beautiful day!
The bathroom plumbing is fixed! We found that the problem was a sagging pipe that allowed shampoo, conditioner and hair to build up and slow everything down. Looking forward to school today.
I've been thinking about my role as a teacher this morning. I don't think that I really have the ability to teach as public school teachers and yet my children have learned to read, write, spell, do math, and various other academic subjects.
I used my concordance this morning and looked up the word "teach". Just scanning over the listings in the NIV, it is apparent what is most important. Teach me your ways O, Lord. David said teach me your paths. When God spoke to people He said I will teach you what to say. Jesus was called Teacher. He is the teacher, as is the Holy Spirit. Over the years I have prayed over my little classroom of children as I have prepared to teach a subject or new concept. They have learned and they are growing into adults with good character and respectful manners.
Do I really teach, yes and no, I'm a vessel or a glove that God uses to teach my children. I pray that God will continue to work through me to teach my children everyday, even after school and academics are completed. That I would turn to His word to light my way in this dark world.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Praises

Back again already! I have a praise that I just had to share and I almost forgot with all the plumbing issues that have been happening.
Friday night Kelly came home from the football game and started telling me about her friend and the problems that were taking place in her family. We both prayed for her friend and then she went on to bed. The next day was Saturday (plumbing day, lots of stress) and I almost missed a very important thing that God was showing me. He is working in my sweet husband.
Ronald had been awakened by the chatter that was going on between KK and myself and he overheard part of what was being said. He didn't say anything until after Kelly went to bed when he woke up enough to ask me what was going on. I gave him a brief run down since it was after 11 p.m. and he had to get up and go to work the next morning. That night he was very restless and tossed and turned quite a bit. At 4:30 a.m. when he got up I asked him what was wrong. His reply, "I was really worried about Kelly's friend and her family so I just kept praying to God that He would be with them."
Those that know my family know that my husband doesn't go to church with me and doesn't claim to be a Christian. If you look for the fruit it may not be readily seen. I sometimes think it hides behind the leaves of the tree. What I do know though is that God is working in my husband and I love him very much. He is very much the head of our home and God is the center of our home. I will continue to pray for him and my children on a daily basis.

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141: 2

Of Ladies and Powder Rooms

Well where do we start. This past Saturday,all I wanted to do was clean my home and work on crocheting a baby blanket. KK got ready for work and the shower was draining slow and the toilet was perking. My first thought was flush the toilet and make everything go down the line. WRONG! Our weekend that was supposed to be quiet and peaceful was anything but. There were several trips to Lowe's and Marvin's. One super plunger (that's what it said on the tag), three different types of plumbing snakes, some pvc cleaner, glue, a few odd looking pieces of pvc piping, and a little over $100 we are a little closer to having it fixed. Well that is what I thought on Sunday. Don't get me wrong, Dad is very capable of doing the work & I will sing out about what a wonderful handyman he is, it's just that I am a bit squimish when it comes to such things, and not a capable plumber or helper in this case. The clog is just out of reach of the snakes and the super plunger. So here it is now, Tuesday and we are still down to one bathroom and one half bath. With 4 girls in the house and poor Dad, he's feeling the pressure to get the second bath working in a hurry. I think back on growing up we had a 4 bedroom, 1 bath home with 6 children(4 girls, 2 boys) and our Mom, and she still managed to have everyone bathed and ready for bed before 9 P.M. Wish I had inherited some of her management skills.
But not to fear, God is good. We have friends who have done plumbing before and are super sweet to come help us. The problem should be 100% solved by this evening. (The girls and I are all praying). Don't laugh, God is the God of all things even trials such as this. It has tried our patience, but we persevere and cope. No tempers have flared and no potty emergencies even with all the extra children that have been here over the weekend. My concern now as this is coming to an end, is that I won't be able to clean the metal marks out of the bottom of the toilet from the plumbing snake that was sent down. (KK would say I was OCD in this) Oh well, such is life. One day that toilet will be replaced, and we will have forgotten all about the issues of this time. Our focus will be on the things of God. We are all a little closer now for this trial has helped us to understand that we can get through anything with prayer and love for one another. : ) Today our home will get cleaned, the powder room repaired and draining properly, school work done and all will be right in our little bit of the world, because we know the One in control.
Praises to our God!

children

I know we raise (train up) our children to be grown ups. To be responsible adults. The problem is not my childrens', it is mine. I do not like this growing up stuff. Why can't they just stay little a little while longer? Our Kelly is off at a football game tonight with friends and Jessica & Aimee just got home from babysitting. The really sad part is, I don't know exactly when they grew up. It really does seem like yesterday that they were just crawling around on the floor and calling Mama for every little thing. I miss those days so much. I thank God that they are growing into Godly young women that will one day be wives and Mama's themselves, but sometimes it just seems like the time goes by faster than it should.
Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Ps. 34:11

Rambling thoughts about Titus 2

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5
Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live... I've been thinking about this scripture a great deal this morning. The greatest priority in a home is Love. My most important ministry is my home. I set the temperature in my home. Is it peaceful? Is it harmonious? Have I respectfully placed my husband first? As an older woman, have I taught a younger woman this week? Well I have 3 daughters still living at home. Which means I have to daily lay my life before Christ so that I don't teach them anything wrong. Have I lived my life in a reverent way? Deeply respectful of the things of God.
On the other side of the coin, Have I learned anything from another older woman? So often God puts Godly women in our lives and we over look them. I have been blessed with many women in my life, some in my church and some that I have met through homeschooling. Many that have written wonderful books that teach me through their words. But the most precious are those that I know personally because they teach me with their actions.
I pray this day that I would have a teachable heart, that I would not malign the word of God.

Just one step

Don't you just hate when things get backed up? OK, Bring your mind back to the blog. I'm talking about projects and house work! My house needs to be cleaned because I haven't had a chance to clean since a week and 1/2 ago. I need to sit and work on my lesson plans for school and my literature unit study. But what I'd rather be doing today is crocheting.
I guess it is time to practice what I preach to my children. When looking at algebra problems, it's like having a large hamburger in your hands. You don't eat the whole thing in one bite, you take several little bites. In my case I have a mountain of projects, so I don't climb over the mountain in one step. Just take the first step, and then the next step. God will take care of the rest and I will climb over one step at a time. Yea! Problem solved! Life is good, God is Awesome!

Before & After

We did it! Aimee and I got our hair cuts. Our stylist does such a good job! Check it out. Here are the before and after pics.

the Apple Quilt is finished

Yes! I finished the quilt just in time for the baby shower! I worked on it until Saturday evening and then made a bag for the quilt and handed it over to the Mama to be on Sunday at the baby shower. Whew! (wiping my brow). Now on to the blanket that I am crocheting for another friend that is expecting.

Today though Aimee and I are getting our hair cut. I will be posting before and after pictures later. Haven't made up my mind quite yet what I want but right now I'm leaning to something a little short. I may chicken out before I get it done but we will see.

My Day

So today I worked all day on one part of a quilt. It is slow going because there are so many other things going on. (laundry, cooking, cleaning, teaching and trying to get organized before school starts back) We also took a break this morning to go to Wal Mart and buy some school supplies. I'm glad that my girls love learning.
I will be glad when I am done with the baby blankets for baby showers. Then I can just take my time and make the things that I want to. I have so many projects started for my children, a cross stitch for Kelly, a window pane quilt for Jessica, and a matching pillow sham for the quilt that I made for Aimee last winter. I have put these projects on the back burner in order to finish so many baby projects.
I am adding hand embroidery to the quilt above, to make it personal for the Mama to be. I am so excited about it. I try to make each blanket special for each new mama, whether quilted or crocheted. I love seeing the surprised looks on their faces when the open the package at the shower.
Well back to my work. God Bless

Are you different?

This is a long video but interesting. Take the time to listen.