GPS

How many of us rely on modern technology to get us where we need to go?

I'm guilty. I'm pretty good with directions, but sometimes I need a little extra help. I'll be the first to say though that sometimes those roads, and directions, and maps can be confusing.

It's similar to a puzzle. When you are in the middle of a puzzle, working with all of those pieces that are funny shaped and have the same color pattern, it can often be difficult to remember what the big picture looks like.

Just like that puzzle, maps often resemble a jumbled up mess. That is, until you step back. Once you are no longer concentrating on a small part, you can clearly see what is really out there.

I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about this very topic & I haven't been able to get it off my mind.

God has his own GPS - God's Perspective Seen

It would do us all good to remember that while we are traveling along that small portion of life's map, God is able to see the whole map. He is watching our doubts, our worries, our joy, and our happiness. He sees when we make a wrong turn, frowns when we drive recklessly, worries when we slow down at stop signs instead of actually stopping, and He smiles lovingly as we realize that a u-turn is the only way to get back on course.

I love the thought of God looking down on us, knowing the whole time that if we would just follow His directions as He gives them, our journey would be so much more enjoyable.

Maybe its time to turn our GPS back on and actually listen to it!

If I Don't Like It.....

Oh how I HATE HATE HATE those little words!

One of my children has probably just asked what we are having for supper. It never ever fails, especially if it is something new or different, someone always says "what if I don't like it?".

You eat it ANYWAY!

I have made some sort of effort to make sure there is food in this house. I have made an effort to provide a hot meal. And I have made a huge effort to find something new, fun, healthy, & pleasing to everyone.

Do you have any clue how hard that is?

Obviously my children don't!

I am SOOOOO reminding them of this when they have kids!

Tales of a Homeschool Nothing ~ And We Resume

It feels like forever since we have actually done "structured school". And I do mean F O R E V E R! We always take off most of the month of December, but we had so many interruptions & insanity going on before Thanksgiving that it was difficult to get in a few good days of school, let alone a full week.

Let me just say that I wasn't exactly thrilled about starting back.

I know my kids! Austin, especially, likes to push my buttons & will buck until its all I can do to hold onto my control. I was fully expecting this first week back to be miserable.

This is one of the few times that I have been happy to be wrong!

Yes, Monday was a little sketchy, but hey, its been awhile. The rest of the week, while it hasn't been perfect, it has been pleasant. And - get this - we actually accomplished EVERYTHING we were supposed to!

WHOOP WHOOP

In a nutshell, this week we have learned about craters & made a model of Mercury, we have set sail on the unsinkable ship, studied cause & effect, made groups of 10, reviewed Latin, read about Louis' struggles with being dumb & his adventures at camp, created melted pieces of art, had several dance offs, & plenty of other stuff.

WOW - we you write it all down, it looks like we really did have a good week.

That Moment When ....

..... You wonder just how you're kids have survived this long & if they will ever make it to adulthood.

Thankfully I have never been a panicky parent. When my kids fall down, I usually respond with "you're okay." When they take off in the woods, I just tell them to be careful. When the oldest hits his younger sister, she's usually told to hit him back.

So far we haven't had too many trips to the ER because of crazy accidents. But they are getting a little more frequent.

I have joked before that Logan would be lucky to make it out of our house alive. His older brother & especially his sister are a little rough on him

I had one of those moments yesterday.

I actually *gasped* & went running!

I was cooking supper & heard Logan digging around in the spoon drawer like he usually does. I heard a strange "clanking" sound, but didn't worry about it. A few minutes later, I walked to the fridge to get something & that is when I noticed what Logan was doing.

He hadn't got anything out of the middle drawer. He had stood on tippy toes to reach into the top drawer. He had a knife - not just any knife. He had the BIG BUTCHER KNIFE & was tapping the floor with it.

OH MY WORD!!!

This child is the cause of ALL of my grey hair!

It Was on a Wednesday....

...Somebody Touched Me!

You've heard the song "Glory Glory Glory, Somebody Touched Me". Its a fun song that the kids love to sing. It goes through the days of the week one by one and people stand up as the day they were saved is mentioned. Hopefully by the end of the song, everyone is standing & singing!

I am thankful to say that God is still saving souls & touching lives!

My precious daughter asked Jesus to save her on Wednesday January 2, 2013.

Makenzie is only 7 years old, but she has a heart of gold. She has been asking questions & wondering when she could be saved. We have always answered that she would know when Jesus decided it was her turn. Salvation is such a sensitive, personal decision that we didn't want to do anything to influence her.

I am still praising God over His goodness & mercy!

Top 10 of 2012

I thought I would post a few of my favorites from this year for fun & to help me remember them as well. These lists are not necessarily new to 2012, but they are significant to me this year.

Top 10 books of 2012
1. KJV Bible (always)
now in no particular order...
2. Raising Real Men
3. Twilight series (yes, I'm a Twi-Hard)
4. Night Huntress series
5. Made to Crave
6. The Hunger Games series
7. The MacLomain series
8. The Elf on the Shelf
9. Plants Grown Up
10. The Marriage Project



Top 10 movies of 2012
1.Fast Five
2. Breaking Dawn - part 2
3. Rock of Ages
4. The Hunger Games
5. Courageous
6. The Vow
7. The Lorax
8. Brave
9. Happy Feet 2
10. Jeremy Fink & the Meaning of Life

A Different New Year's Party

Last night, I had the privilege to ring in another new year with the ones I love.

We didn't travel all the way to New York (although I really want to do that one year). We didn't spend most of the night forgetting & most of the morning regretting due to large alcohol contents. We didn't sit on the couch trying our best to stay awake long enough to see the shiny ball drop.

This year, like the past few years, my family has been in church! We spent the night filled with preaching, praying, praising, singing, fellowship, & food.

We started our service with more than 75 people worshipping the Lord around 8pm & finished out in the altar with 40 dedicated souls after 1:30am.

I am still a little tired, but I am so blessed!

psst.....guess what? Fellman was one of our preachers!!