Deprived

Our little sweetheart was such a trooper last week! After an EEG at Children's Hospital, Jonathan has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder. Even after a very limited amount of sleep- and no food, he was still an angel. He even impressed the tech because he didn't cry or fight her.

There are so many questions whirling around in my head and even my heart right now. So many questions that I do not have answers for. What an awesome assurance though to know that my Father, the Creator of the Universe, the one who knit Jonathan together does.

"... I called upon the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place." Ps 118:5

The Plague

I'm not sure what we came down with at our house for the past few weeks. MomtoCherubs called it "The Plague." Gotta agree with her. It just would not go away. We each started with extreme fatigue and weakness. That turned into a sinus type headache and then came the cough. The cough that lasted and lasted and lasted. Eddie was thoughtful and took me to the doc this week. Yippee for cough suppressants... especially that is safe for the baby.Bubbles!! What fun on the wonderful, pollen-filled days we have been having. I've tried to watch the pollen count for the day and only let JT go outside to play when it is moderate or first thing in the mornings.Our little monkey was stuck!! He felt pretty bad for a few days- but not bad enough to quit exploring!

Isaac was such a help. He even pitched in with breathing treatments!!

Can't Live Without It

While checking my Yahoo email this morning, I saw an article that caught my attention, "10 Things We Can't Live Without." I just had to see what we Americans can't live without.

1. Coffee
2. Booze
3. Pets
4. Music Downloads
5. TV
6. Movies
7. Education
8. Smart Phones ads
9. High-Speed Internet
10. Portable Computers

Not me! My list of 10 things I can't (or don't want to) do without:

1. Air conditioning

2. Clean water

3. My Bible

4. Books
5. Home Education

6. Internet

7. My Grace Works Planner

8. Grain Mill (I jammed it this morning... what am I going to do?)

9. The smiles and laughter of my family

10.My bed, pillow, and sleep mate

"A Whole Way of Life"

I'm rereading a book that I read many years ago - - - back before Eddie and I were called Mom and Dad! I've just gotta share a portion that touched my heart years ago and does so again today. As I prepare for the start of our school year, I am reminded of why we are doing what we do. Thanks Mike!

Homeschooling families are determined not to be devoured and digested, becoming part of the feces of the carnivorous monster called public education. As homeschooling parents, you have taken charge of your life with intentions of giving God his rightful place in training your children. To teach biology in an environment that denies the Author of life is like eating an egg while denying the chicken. Such a process is stupefying- degrading to the intellect. To teach history apart form God is to praise the sculpture and deny the sculptor. To learn science and mathematics apart form the Omnipotent God is to throw out the computer and do your computations with a roulette wheel. To teach children to read and then outlaw the reading of the only book written by the God called "The Word" is like giving a blind man sight and then outlawing seeing.

The public school expelled God from the classroom, but when their immorality became a threat to personal satisfaction as well as personal safety, they started talking about values. They will not get their values back any more than a man will get fruit from a tree he has severed from its roots.

We are not rebels. Quite the opposite. We are just a minority who refuse to join a rebellion against God and the truth. We are taking our children to the tree of life growing beside the fountain of knowledge, to be refreshed by the Author of life. We will not stoop for anything less. We will not compromise. We will not allow state testing to dictate our curriculum. They have made their position on God and morality clear. We are making our position clear. We will not attend their party, dance to their tune or employ their fiddler." Michael
Pearl

No Way!

Half Way? Are we really half way through this pregnancy? Wow! Time flies when you are having fun, right? Yesterday marked 20 weeks... so here's what is happening:

1. The baby weighs about 10 oz
2. and is about the size of a banana
3. She is learning to swallow
4. and produce meconcum too!

Isaac and I sorted a bag of clothing that a sweet friend shared with us. What...Do little girls have to have a pair of shoes for every outfit? I'm sure we'll get the hang of all these little pink accessories.

Dinner Time

I don't know how my mother did it (especially with 3 kids running around), but we always had dinner when daddy got home. It wasn't a frozen skillet meal or pizza either. She had a "home-cooked" meal ready when daddy came in the door. Now how did she do that? She always knew when he would be home... without cell pones too!

Well, one of the things I desired for my family was to have dinner together. Almost every evening we are able to sit down to our almost home-cooked meal. Tonight I captured a few moments of our dinner preparations. Hope you enjoy.

Mercy and Grace

Mercy witholds the knife from the heart of Isaac.
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.

Mercy runs to forgive the Prodigal Son.
Grace throws a party with every extravagance.

Mercy bandages the wounds of the man beaten by the robbers.
Grace covers the cost of his full recovery.

Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.

Mercy pays the penalty for our sin at the cross.
Grace substitutes the righteousness of Christ for our wickedness.

Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be an apostle.

Mercy saves John Newton from a life of rebellion and sin.
Grace makes him a pastor and author of a timeless hymn ("Amazing Grace").

Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.

Mercy withholds what we have earned.
Grace provides blessings we have not earned.

-David Jeremiah
"Captured by Grace"