Thankful, Yes; Genius, No

We made it!

Thirty days of praying for our kids!

Thanks for joining me!

(Now... lather, rinse, repeat.  Right?!)


And I (sort of) apologize for not having many other posts this month.  I preloaded the prayers and spent less time blogging.  For which I'm thankful :D

I'm also thankful for a simple solution to what seemed like a crisis this morning.

I was balancing my checkbook.  Can you hear the moaning and groaning?

I know, some of you think I'm really organized and together.  I like being organized.  I like schedules, plans, clear and clean surfaces, a tidy office, and ducks in a row.  That works for me.  And I used to reconcile my checkbook every single month.  You know, to see how we were doing with our monthly budget categories.  (Larry Burkett would've been so pleased...)  Not so much anymore.  We won't talk about why.

But, since Kerry has an appointment with our good friend at H&R Block this afternoon, I needed some data from the checkbook and it seemed like a good time to get all caught up, right?  Well, I'm not going to tell you just how far behind I was, but when I got to November and December's statements I nearly panicked.  There were more than twenty errors.  More than twenty check numbers appeared twice, with different amounts!  I don't write that many checks a month, so we're talking more than a month's living expenses!  What had happened???  Had somebody 'hacked' my checking account?  Were there other problems I hadn't discovered yet?

Can you guess?  (Probably!)

By the time I got a  friendly, helpful credit union employee on the line it was beginning to dawn on me.  I had ordered new checks and accidentally 'overlapped' the last book, so I had 25 checks with duplicate numbers.

Crisis averted.  Celebration in order (in the form of hot chocolate).

So, as I said...

Thankful, yes; genius, no.

31 Gratitude

Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness, giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:7
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Ephesians 5;20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30 Courage

May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

1 Chronicles 28:20
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you...

29 Joy

May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Grasshopper Days 3-28-11

Grasshopper Days

For Today, March 28, 2011

Outside my window...  cloudy and cool, but the boys are outside running laps around the house :D

I am thinking... about science.

I am thankful for...  everyone healthy, Kerry has a bit of work, and we got through the first half of Monday without any whining.

I am praying for...  my brother and his job interview Wednesday, friends (and strangers) in Japan, and attitudes around the house.

I am wearing...  sweats.  Have not showered yet, but going out this evening so will raise the bar just a bit.  ;D

I am creating...  dinner for a sick friend.

I am going...  to break early for lunch today.

I am reading... Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury.

I am hearing...  boys outside doing what boys do, the furnace running (brrr!), and...
tappity tappity tappity.

I am remembering...  

From the learning rooms...  parentheses in algebra, experimental probability (Tate), and the commutative property (Gunnar), words with curr/cour/curs, Mao's rise to power in China, apartheid in South Africa, experiments with light, writing Limericks, and talking about courteous speech.

From the kitchen...  grilled lime chicken with rice tonight.

Around the house...  I just tidied and where did all these books come from???

On my mind...  ten more weeks of school :D

Noticing that...  we all seem to be dragging today.  Why so tired?

Pondering these words...  saw this and cracked up...

I recently asked my friends' little girl what she wanted to be when she grew up.

She said she wanted to be President some day.

 Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were a President, what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people."  Her parents beamed.

"Wow, that's a worthy goal," I told her.  "But you don't have to wait until you're President to do that.  You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds, and rake my yard, and I'll pay you $50.  Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?"

I said, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

Her parents still aren't speaking to me.

One of my favorite things...  hot chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  Tate's Hunter Safety course starts tonight and he is really excited!  Otherwise... school work and errands.  Thrilling times, yah?

Here is a picture I am sharing...  

Found this in the school room one morning, from Tate.

Anyone remember Harold and the Purple Crayon?

28 Self-Discipline

Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.

Proverbs 1:3
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
   doing what is right and just and fair;

 John 9:4
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit,
   but mere talk leads only to poverty.

27 A Willingness And Ability To Work Hard

Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

26 A Heart For Missions

Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:3
Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

25 Purity

Create in them pure hearts, O God, and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Ephesians 5:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

More of Gunnar

For anyone waiting to hear news of the flame thrower, sadly that project was abrputly shelved upon the discovery that a neighbor was using a CHAINSAW to clear some trees and brush from her yard, and was accepting HELP from neighbor KIDS and would pay them for their labor with ICE CREAM.  Hallelujah.

The latest from Gunnar?  He's a poky eater.  Too much to talk about, with all of us at the table, apparently.  I'm always encouraging him to finish, already. 

But, Mom, holding up his fingers about a centimeter apart, my sarcophagus is really small.

24 Faith

I pray that faith will find root in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.

Luke 17:5-6
 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Hebrews 11:6
 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Romans 4:20-21 
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

23 Contentment

Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength.

Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Should I Be Worried?

After our Physics lesson on heat, Gunnar left the room chattering about plans to make...

... a flame thrower.

Should I be worried, or just chalk it up to Homeschool Science?

Who says we don't do lab work?!

22 A Servant Heart/ Good Works

Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly as if they were serving the Lord, not men.

Ephesians 6:7
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Grasshopper Days 3-21-11

Grasshopper Days

For today, March 21, 2011

 Outside my window...  officially it's spring, and I'm trying to believe it.  The robins are back and the boys have seen bumblebees in the yard, but the cold temps (only 10 above freezing) and the snow in the hills aren't quite ready to let go yet.

I am thinking...  There's no place like home.

I am thankful for...  safe travels, fun in the snow for the boys, and my family.

I am praying for...  friends and strangers in Japan, attitudes and homeschool, my family.

I am wearing...  not-leaving-the-house-today-uniform: gray sweats, purple sweater, thick socks and slippers, hair up.  I know, I know, stylish beyond belief, yah?

I am creating...  plans.

I am going...  to fold mountains of laundry today (good thing the boys will do much of the putting away), to plan meals for the week, and clean house.  Definitely in the spring cleaning mode!

I am reading...  finishing The Hiding Place, and not sure what's up next, but have several books on reserve at the library.

I am hearing...  washer and dryer working ;D

From the learning rooms...  fractions, ratios, division, stories with missing numbers, the Suez Canal crisis of the 50's, The Marshall Plan and the Berlin food drops, words with carn and corp, poetry, positive/comparative/superlative adjectives, memorizing Philippians 2, more experiments with magnetism, and courtesy.

From the kitchen...  hmmmm, working on that meal plan...

Around the house...  much that needs tidying and dusting.  Feeling the need to de-clutter.

On my mind...  how much I need to be praying for our family.

Noticing that...  you can't please everyone.

Pondering these words...

You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit. 

One of my favorite things...  home!

A few plans for the rest of the week...  cleaning, organizing, planning... the usual.

Here is a picture I am sharing...  

What a difference four years makes... Summer 2007.

Cute?

21 Prayerfulness

Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray continually

Park Passes? Awesome.

I'm so used to Tate's hearing loss that I tend to forget he has a disability.  He's such a regular kid! 

Well, that's not quite true, either.  I think he's an exceptional kid ;D

And he really doesn't need much in the way of accommodations.

Still, once in awhile there are privileges offered to him/us because of his disability.  And as long as it's not taking anything from someone who needs it more, we'll gladly accept!

We went to visit my in-laws this weekend and spent a couple of days playing in the snow at Mt. Rainier National Park.  Where we get in FREE, thanks to Tate's Access Pass.  You can find the details here.  Basically, he has a lifetime pass that gives him (and his family with him :D ) free access to National Parks, National Forests, etc. as well as discounts on camping, swimming, boat launches, guided tours, and more.  We have a similar card for Washington State Parks (info here), though it must be renewed every five years. 

For my Deaf/HoH buddies out there, your state may have something similar - check it out!  Especially the National Parks - good at over 2000 sites.

WOOT!

20 Humility

Lord, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.

Titus 3:2
to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
 “God opposes the proud
   but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

19 Perseverance

Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

18 Hope

May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

17 Compassion

Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

16 Generosity

Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for th coming age.

1 Timothy 6:18-19
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

15 Kindness

Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Grasshopper Days 3-14-2011

Grasshopper Days

For today, March 14, 2011

Outside my window...  dark!  I usually try to post this in the morning, but not today.
The wind is picking up again - lots of wind for the last four or five days, but we haven't lost power, so not too bad.

I am thinking...  about Japan.

I am thankful for...  three boys in warm, cozy beds, in a safe, dry house, with plenty of food,
and water you can drink straight from the tap.

 I am praying for...  Japan, the boys' character(s), and wisdom and endurance for me.

I am wearing...  navy blue sweats, red long-sleeve shirt, thick socks, and hair up.

I am going...  no plans for the next few days.

I am reading...  The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom, with the boys.

 I am hoping...  to get adjusted to Daylight Savings Time... so hard to get up in the morning!

I am hearing...  blessed silence in the house, the boys are in bed :D  And the wind blowing outside.
 
I am remembering...  what a clean office looke like... *sigh* ;D

From the learning rooms...  Wyatt just finished his math book and started on Jacob's Algebra (hope I can keep up with him!),  Tate is forging ahead on his book, and Gunnar is delighted to be well into his fourth grade math.  We're working on words with -graph and -gram, making an electo-magnet, and reading about the partition of India and of Israel.

From the kitchen...  all's quiet, now.  Thawing out some caribou for tomorrow's dinner.

Around the house...  stacks and stacks of book.  Really must check my library account and see if anything is due soon, because there seem to be more piles of books than usual!

On my mind...  lots to do before the weekend.  LOTS.

Noticing that...  I think ALL the boys are in a growth spurt right now.  Need to do our semi-annual "try on everything in your dressers and closet" event.

Pondering these words...
God does not have problems.  Only plans.
Corrie ten Boom

One of my favorite things...  unexpected blessings! :D
I'm always on the lookout for "homeschool enrichment", right?
Last night we got a call from a friend, in town with her husband and HS age son who was playing a benefit concert with his select youth symphony.  Would we like to come?  You bet!
Nearly three hours of live music, and even ballet at the end!
Okay, the ballet was probably not the boys' favorite, but they were good sports.
And the symphony, along with classical music, played some folk songs as well as (imagine the boys' eyes lighting up!) the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Then, when we got home we had an email waiting from our local theater, thanking us for being such "good patrons", (which is really a stretch, given that we might get tickets for one event a year!) and offering us free tickets for a concert later this spring by the US Army Band and Choir.  Cool!

Here is a picture I am sharing...

Probably summer of 1967.  :D

14 Peace

Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

13 Responsibility

Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load.

Galatians 6:5
for each one should carry his own load.

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

12 A Passion For God

Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You.

Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

11 Faithfulness

Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.

Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.

10 Biblical Self-Identity

Help my children develop a strong self identity that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.


* I changed this from "self-esteem" to "self identity".  The whole self-esteem thing just makes me nauseous.  Our kids will get a lot further in life by esteeming others.  They don't need any more encouragement to think highly of themselves.  'Nuff said.

Timely, or What?

It's funny, you know.  I planned these prayer posts ahead of time, with no thought to the order of them, because it really doesn't matter. 

Well, okay, I did put salvation first, on purpose, but other than that, no plan.

And they keep landing on the days we need them.

Like today.  Respect. 

At the breakfast table this morning, as the long and detailed discussion of rabbits and their turds was winding down, I turned to Gunnar and prompted him to tell Kerry about his math yesterday.

Dad!  I finished eight math lessons and a test yesterday!

Dad responded with appropriate praise.  Wyatt however was less than gracious.

Well, that was cheating because he only had to do four or five problems for each lesson.

Well, duh, show me mastery of the concept and you don't have to do  30 problems.  Ding-ding-ding!  We have a winner!

That is NOT cheating, and - for showing your disrespect for your brother - you get to do his breakfast dishes.  And I made french toast today.  Lots of sticky plates.

Just keeping things real.  *sigh*

9 Respect for Self, Others, Authority

Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands.

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

8 Mercy

May my children always be merciful, as their Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Grasshopper Days 3-7-2011

Grasshopper Days

For Today, March 7, 2011

Outside my window...  frost on the ground, snow on the hills, and high clouds in the sky.

Little green shoots are poking up, very hopefully, through all the dead brown.

I am thinking...  about planning for next school year already.

I am thankful...  for the boys' renewed health after a couple of sick weeks, for a fresh start every morning, and for piles of good books to read.

I am praying for...  well, just look at all the posts on prayer this month :D  Also praying for some new work for Kerry, as he is wrapping up several projects he's been working on.

I am wearing...  blue jeans, blue socks, blue t-shirt, purple sweater.  Staying warm.

I am going...  to get school going soon.  The boys have opted for just a half-day today, as the public schools are out today (teacher workday or something?) and they want to play with friends, and to make up the other half later in the week.

I am reading...  just finished My Man Jeeves.  Funny, but I think I'd like it better in smaller doses than reading the whole book at once.  Just started The Hiding Place with the boys.

I am hoping...  to find someone local who can loan me a Sonlight Core 100 (Grade 9) instructor's guide for a few days.  Any local readers know someone?

I am hearing...  quiet.  Hmmm, it's too quiet.  What are the boys doing???

I am remembering...  yikes.  It's a new month.  Need to pay the bills.

From the learning rooms...  wrapping up WWII, experiments with magnetism, statistics, words with spec and spic, converting between metric and standard, creative writing (stories from pictures),

and much, much more!!!

From the kitchen...  hmmm.  No plan for dinner yet.  Probably chicken :D

Around the house...  piles and piles of wonderful books that need to be tidied.  Do you find it hard to get rid of books?  I'm great at purging everything else but books are my downfall.  Must do it.  But some of out "little kid books" are so wonderful I hate to get rid of them.

On my mind...  plans always look wonderful on paper.  Why isn't everything that neat and tidy and efficient in real life?!  ;D

Noticing that...  sometimes a group of kids get together, but even when they're all nice kids individually, the group just doesn't always work out.  The mix isn't always right.  Trying to help the boys work through this graciously with some of the neighbor kids.

Pondering these words...  

People are like stained glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,

but when the darkness sets in,

that is when their true beauty is revealed,

only if there is a light from within.

     --  Elizabeth Kubler Ross

 

One of my favorite things...  usually when I tell Gunnar I love him, it's like starting a bidding war.  He'll say he loves me more.

And I'll say I loved him before he was born.

He'll say he loved me when he was just an idea in God's mind.  

Etc.

But when he's really tired and almost asleep,

I'll whisper, I love you, Gunnar,

and he will summon all his sleepy thoughts,

smile, and nod, and grunt Mmm-hmmm.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  getting my now-healthy-again children back onto a normal school and chore schedule.  Because we've let everything slide.

Oh boy, this ought to be fun...   /sarcasm

Here is a picture I am sharing...

  

I know, this is an old one (Gunnar looks about five), but it just fit today... :D

 

7 Justice

God, help my children to love justice as You do and to act justly in all they do.

Psalm 11:7
For the LORD is righteous,
   he loves justice;
   upright men will see his face.

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God.

6 Love God's Word

May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than gold.

Psalm 19:10
They are more precious than gold,
   than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
   than honey from the comb.

A Big Day for the Bunnies

Our first bunny came with a hutch.  A very, very sturdy hutch that kind of scared me.  It sat on the ground and the roof opened up on hinges for access to the cage.  The very, very heavy roof made of now-water-logged-and-very-slippery wood and metal.  Honestly, I worried that if one of the boys was leaning into the cage and the lid fell on him it would crush his rib cage.  That heavy.  And with two bunnies living in it, well... things were getting pretty muddy.

So Kerry and the boys built the bunnies a new hutch.  You know, upscale bunny condos :D  And just as they finished building, it began to snow, and the boys got sick.  And nobody wanted to dismantle the old hutch feeling like that, in weather like that, so they just moved the bunnies into their new home... in the garage.

But today was the day.  Taking advantage of a break in the wet weather, they got the old hutch taken apart and the space prepared for the new hutch.

Here it is... emerging from the garage.  Woo-hoo!

Tate has both the doors open to get the bunnies out and clean their boxes.

Wyatt, with Podger.

And here you see the architect, shimming and balancing the legs of this amazingly well-designed hutch ;D

There are doors on each end, as well as the doors in the middle, and the two "condos" are identical.  The boxes on the top are completely enclosed, except for a holes at the tops of the ramps, and are separated by wire mesh so the bunnies can be cozy, but can't get at each other.

The divider on the lower level is removable, though that may be wishful thinking.

We had hoped they would get along and be able to share space, but at this point...

well, it's been a biology lesson, for sure, and we'll be keeping them separate for the time being.

For Poly's sake.  Sort of protective custody.

Ta-daaaa.

Praying and Other Things

I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the prayer prompts and finding them helpful... I know I do :D

Since I'm such a high-tech mom (ha ha ha ha ha), I've written them on 3x5 cards, attached together with a little snap ring.  That's this:

Then I can just flip from one to the next each day.

The order doesn't matter at all, (well, okay, I did put Salvation first on purpose!), and I didn't number mine.  If I miss a day, I can just keep right on going.  Or flip through to whatever seems to be the need of the day ;D

Which today would probably be something along the lines of working diligently.  *sigh*

The general game plan around here is that the boys have regular chores during the week, but Saturday is for big jobs.  And oh, the aaaaagggoooooonnyyyyyy.

They're supposed to be picking up branches and cones that have blown off the giant fir tree in the front yard.  Not a difficult job, but tedious.  And all three of them have needed to come inside to consult with me about one thing or other.

*  Yes, that looks like an old battery - throw it in the garbage. 
*  Yes, you have to put the cones in garbage bags to take to Grampa's burn pile.
*  I understand you don't find this "point-ful" but you have to do it anyway.
*  No, you're not getting paid. ( Do I get paid for laundry and cooking and cleaning?)

Then they're supposed to disassemble the old bunny hutch and replace it with the new, wonderful bunny hutch they have completed.  You'll get pictures when they get it moved out of the garage.

In the mean time, there's good news - Tate has gone for two nights without coughing fits.  Either that or I'm too exhausted to hear him, but I think the former.  Hallelujah.

5 Self-Control

Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do.

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

4 Honesty and Integrity

May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.

Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
   because my hope is in you.

Leviticus 19:11
Do not steal.
Do not lie.
Do not deceive one another.

Acts 24:16
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

3 Love

Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in them.

Ephesians 5:2
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Wednesday Morning

We're just about ready to begin school.  A little later than usual, but some of us still aren't back into a normal sleeping pattern.

And today's verse/theme is so very timely.  Appropriate for the kids, sure.  Because while they're not as sick as they were, their not-quite-well-ness is manifesting itself in irritability. 

But mostly for me.

Ann had an interesting comment on a verse from yesterday's post - 2 Timothy 2:10 - that hit home.  What will we endure for the sake of the elect?  Because that's our kids.  And though I love them dearly, there are moments where endure really nails it.

Moments like yesterday, day nine of sickness, when Tate had a huge coughing fit during school.  And Wyatt (frustrated about the delay?  having some kind of adolescent hormonal overload that short-circuited his brain?) said, "Tate, she doesn't care at all that you're coughing.  She's just mad that you're interrupting school."

Huh???

And I may have said a bad word at that point.  Which I feel badly about.

And Wyatt may have written sentences and tidied the garage, later.  Which I don't feel badly about.

And today we're praying that our kids will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And I'm praying it for me, too.

2 Grow In Grace

I pray that they may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

1 Salvation

Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Isaiah 45:8
You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
   let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
   let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
   I, the LORD, have created it.

2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 3:15
and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.