I STAND AMAZED!

Every day I stand amazed in the awe of my children.  They are growing and maturing in more ways than I can imagine.  Of course I think that they are amazing, after all they are my children, but even people who don’t really know them step back and watch them in pure amazement.  (Okay, maybe pure amazement is probably an exaggeration, but most people think that they are really cool at the very least!)

Take for example my oldest son, John Robert.  My boy who is almost in double digits (he’ll be ten in about three weeks) is one who is showing responsibility in more and more ways.  Like yesterday morning, he got up at 7:00 to get his school work done so he could help me with Cole since Maggie has injured herself again.  He amazes me in his caring attitude and loving heart.

Or take Maggie, my precious oldest daughter who is almost a youth, not a teenager.  In spite of being injured and in intense pain, (The ER said her foot is only sprained not broken, BUT we are supposed to take her to the orthopedic surgeon for only a sprain?  I don’t understand doctors, but I digress.), she is still trying to wash dishes and help with Cole. 

And Ethan, my sweet little man who offers to rub my feet almost daily.  NO, he doesn’t do a great job and yes he usually gets lotion everywhere, but he offers and shows that love.  He also is the one who jumps up when I say I need XYZ done in the house.  Like cleaning the bathroom or unloading the dishwasher.  He’s my helper.

Add to the mix my Cole man who loves to run grab your legs and say “TWO” at every chance throughout the day.  (TWO is his way of saying I LOVE YOU TWO, sweet isn’t it)?  He has not learned this in a home that is not full of love; he has learned this because he is shown love not only by his parents but his brothers and sister.

Yes, I stand in amazement at my children.  More than that, I stand in amazement at what God is doing within the hearts of my children!

This morning in our Bible study we picked up where we left off in John 4 and the story of the Samaritan woman.  We talked about how Christ said that the harvest is ripe, how some sow and some reap.  We talked about how what we do and say affects our relationships with people in a very real way.  We talked about how serving others showcase the love of Christ to a dying world, how we don’t always know the impact that we will have on someone, and why we need to love no matter what; even when we don’t want to.

The insights that my awesome children showed as we discussed this left me in awe, and again I stand amazed at my children.  We discussed how people in our lives claim to love God but choose to not make an effort to show anyone, let alone tell their face.  We talked about people in our lives say that they love Christ but won’t reach out to anyone other than the people in their immediate circle.  We talked about how our hearts hurt over the pain that we see, at the Care Center, with Compassion International, and even with Samaritans Purse and OCC.  Then we talked about how we need to be willing to walk the walk MORE than we talk the talk.

I know that this is not easy.  I know that we all fail daily.  BUT, I am so thankful that my children are getting it.  I am so thankful that in spite of the naysayers (and believe me there are many and I DO KNOW that they talk about us or more specifically me) the heart changes in my children are amazing.  I am thankful that God called us to walk this journey of homeschooling and that He is allowing us to cultivate such a heart of love in our home.  More than that, I stand in amazement, in pure awe of my God who has given me the gift of my children.  I pray that He finds me worthy of this calling.

Operation Christmas Child

Let me preface this by saying that I know and understand that there are causes that are local and people with many needs within our own small community that need help.  Knowing this, Robert and I support and encourage our children to help work at our local Care Center.  We also encourage our children to think globally, there are people hurting everywhere.  One of our family favorite missions’ minded yearly projects is that of Operation Christmas Child or OCC.

If you want to learn more about OCC, I’d encourage you to check out their website, look here. 

 

I can tell you this is a project that the children and I all LOVE to participate in.  There is something so amazing about taking my children to Wal-Mart, Target, or any other Dollar Store and telling them to pick things out and pack a shoebox.  Oftentimes these shoe boxes (think about it, only ONE SHOEBOX), is the only gift this child will receive for that year, or maybe even their entire lifetime.  My children LOVE this mission’s minded shopping trip.  We pack the boxes with practical things.  We buy toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, washcloths, band aids, and any other practically minded thing that we can think of.  Then we head to the toys section.  Oh, to see my children excited to be shopping for children who won’t get any gifts other than these!  We will get yo-yo’s, crayons, jump ropes, jacks, candy, balls, baby dolls, coloring books, puzzles, and any other “small” item that we can think of to fit into a shoebox.  Oftentimes we buy “extra” so that the shoeboxes that our church packs will have enough too.  Then the kiddos come home, pack up their boxes, and we will place them on the altar at church to be prayed over before they are shipped out.

I love this project for so many reasons.  I love watching the videos of the children who receive the shoeboxes.  The joy on their faces is so contagious!  When they cry because they are amazed that a stranger loved them enough to send them a gift, I sob too!  When these precious little ones laugh, dance, clap, and jump for joy over what they have in a shoebox; I want to sing, jump, and dance for joy with them.  I also love watching the joy that is seen in my own children’s faces.  Their joy as they pack shoeboxes, as they talk about what they bought for this precious unknown child and how they hope it blesses them; I smile at the peace that permeates our home.  More than that, I love how packing a simple shoebox allows us to talk about so many lessons on love, Christ, and His heart for us to GO and TELL about His love!

It’s not too late to pack a shoebox!  There is still time to bring indescribable joy to a precious child.  Our family is packing boxes this weekend.  Will you?

SMALL BLESSINGS

This morning we continued our Bible study time in the book of John.  The kiddos and I read some verses to start off our school days and then spend time in prayer for people and each other.  We do this every morning, with a change on Monday’s when we read a story about a famous missionary.  This morning I had to go “hide” to call Robert and tell him, they get it…..they’ve been listening!

Our day started off as any other typical busy day.  Well, we did start a little bit later than normal since all the big kiddos spent the night with Aunt Lanie since she is down for a quick visit from GA.  At about 10:00 I called the kiddos together for Bible.  I asked them what they remembered about the story we read yesterday about David Livingston.  E-Man remembered that he cut open the chief’s daughter’s belly to remove her sickness (appendix).  John Robert remembered that he was tough enough to stay awake after a lion attacked him to tell the others around him how to sew his wounds shut and set his broken shoulder bones.  Maggie remembered that he was always deflecting thanks and praise from himself to God, giving glory to Christ for all things!  I was impressed with what they remembered.

Next we turned to John Chapter 3 where Jesus overturned the money changers tables in the temple.  We read the story and discussed what Christ actions means to us today.  We talked about character, how we choose to respond to sin and people shows our true character.  Then we discussed what a Godly man looks like.  This is where I had to gasp, they are getting it!  The kiddos all talked about men that they know.  They pointed out what they see in each of these men, the good or the bad, and how their actions and character impact their lives.  John Robert even mentioned that, just like Pastor Larry teaches, at the midnight hour some of them have to know the truths about themselves. 

Now is where my children surprised me.  With no prompting from me, they asked me how they could develop truly Godly character.  Then they told me that they see that character in a very important man, their Daddy.   They talked to each other about serving and helping others, about what’s important and what matters.  They prayed for each other and for our family.  They gave me a small blessing, the blessing of seeing how Christ is at work in our home, even on slow starting ordinary Tuesday’s!

BIRTHDAY’S, BIRTHDAY’S, and ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!

We are entering our most wonderful time of the busy year!  We have three birthday’s coming up!  I have one that will be a teenager soon.  Yep, we are about to embark into the “dreaded” teenage years.  I personally don’t see what they big deal about teens is!  She is pretty cool!  BUT, onto her birthday!  She doesn’t want a party.  She would rather have a Mommy/Daddy date night at Carreba’s.

Then a week later we have one turning 1o!  Oh man, double digits!  He wants a baseball birthday party.  So I am in the planning mode, making invitations, and printables, and ordering the party supplies.  We will be playing some “fun” games at this party, (like noodle ball), and I know that the birthday boy will have a blast!

Fast forward three weeks after that to the first week in December and we will have someone turning two!  Yep, it’s time for the terrible two’s!  This little one is having a SILLY MONSTER party!  I LOVE the things that we have made, and I think that the theme is adorable!  We will have this party at the play park since it is in December, I think the cooler weather will be fun to run and play in!

So, there you have it!  In the next two months I will have two children who are in double digits and a two year old!  Stay tuned for more birthday fun!!!