Well, we are in our 4th week of our Fall semester and the kids are having a blast, but the momma is somewhat miffed! I keep asking myself each day how in the world I ever learned to read, spell (well, I still struggle with that), write, etc. The English language is IMPOSSIBLE! I guess I never really considered how difficult it is until now....NOW, when I am trying to teach it to two kids, ages 5 & 6! William's first grade phonics curriculum has covered a different grammatical rule everyday now for 3 weeks. What stock can you put in a rule that says, "sneaky 'e' makes the first vowel say its name". Well, not in the word 'have'! or the rule, "that when 2 vowels are together the first one says its name". Again, not in the words 'said' or 'thief'.....
Over the weekend, I complained to Matt many times about my need for some steadfast rules! Then today as I was reading a friend's blog, she had this posted: LOL!
Let's face it English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,Why didn't the preacher praught.
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and Drive on parkways
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy Of a language where a house can burn up as It burns down
And in which you fill in a form By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!
English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all)
That is why, When the stars are out they are visible, But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch, It starts
But when I wind up this observation, It ends.
I certainly hope the foreign language we are trying to learn has fewer exceptions in language! I think I am TOO old to learn a language like English! Let's pray that my kids are MUCH smarter than me....
Confessions of a crazy English speaker,
AT
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Blessings from teaching my kids to have a quiet time….
I often think of a dear mentor of mine (I think she’ll laugh at the thought…) when I am scrubbing the bathrooms. (No, this is not going to be more “potty talk”….click here to read my post on the “Throne Room”) I think of her because she often testifies to a time in her life when God spoke very clearly about her calling. It was during a period when she was a stay-at-home missionary’s wife/mother. One day as she was cleaning house, she began grumbling about her lot in life. It was at that time God clearly spoke to her with the challenge that her current calling was like no other. HE had given her 2 captive disciples - her children - for the next 18+ years. She would not be offered a more significant mission work than that!
I have to confess the start of the process to teach my own children to spend time with God and develop a relationship with Him was not exactly that spiritual...
Just before William turned two, he began waking early. His father is an early riser and my brother is an extremely early riser, (2 people he seems to take after) so I knew that it was not likely to work out for me to train him to sleep later. After seeking advice from the above mentioned mentor, Matt & I decided to try to teach him that he could get up when his alarm clock sounded. As he was still in his crib, this did not take long to learn, and the transition to a “big boy bed” was super easy! When he woke up in the mornings and after naps, he simply played with his animals, blankets, toes, etc. until the alarm beeped...then he came running out! Sometime just after he turned two, I decided that he had earned the freedom to have books in his bed. At night, I would place his Bible on his nightstand to look at/read in the morning. I wanted to make a distinct difference between this book and his others, so when he went down for a nap I would put a small basket of books (Bible excluded) on the nightstand.
Slowly, we began instructing him to “spend time with God” to start his day. He, of course, did not know what that was to look like, and I was hesitant to tell him. I did not want to put God in box for him. I am not sure how many times over the years, he has said, “Mom, tell me what to do.” And I have said, “Go back and just listen; God will tell you what you are to do.” He of course, sees Matt & I reading, journaling, praying, singing, listening, etc., but given my son’s bent towards legalism, I did not (& still do not) want him to think that there is a correct way to “have a quiet time”, and I certainly did not want him to miss God’s voice because he was trying to stick to a routine.
The Blessing: William felt the draw of the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ as Savior last September. During rest time, on a Sunday afternoon, William came to Matt and said, “Daddy, I need to have Jesus in my heart. Will you let me pray and ask Him to come in?” Matt said yes, but gave him no prompting. William’s words were the overflow of his heart. He confessed his sin, asked forgiveness, professed Christ and committed his life. Amen! Praise His name that HE draws man’s heart.
Now, as parents I do believe that we are called to instruct, lead and disciple our children, but personally we have not wanted our children to ever feel that they had to follow Christ because they were being obedient to us or manipulated by us. We have a set morning Bible study; we are in our 3rd year of reading through the Bible in the evening for family devotion; and of course, I am teaching Biblical percepts over the course of our day. However, I feel some of the best advice we have been given is “to allow our children to see us vulnerable before God, ask God questions and praise & thank God for who He is and what He does in our lives.”
Grace just turned 5 this summer. She has been asking very pointed questions over the last year and even raised her hand at our church Sports Camp to say that she would like to have Jesus in her heart. We are moving very slowly with Grace because as mentioned, I would never want to manipulate her or push her before she is mentally ready. Grace is my highly sensitive child, but also highly distracted. She has had the same above mentioned training with quiet time and “be still & listen”. However, 9 times out of 10 she has chosen the route of “play with animals, blanket & toes” rather than books or spend time with God. When we are having morning devotion or talking about spiritual things, she is always quick to say, “oh yes, I want Jesus in my heart”, but truthfully, I am praying for wisdom on how to proceed with her.
The Blessing: When she makes a decision for God, I know she will be certain of her choice and fully understand the commitment. We have had a few sweet glimpse of the Holy Spirit working in her life:
1) Grace has been a part of the preschool program for Bible Study Fellowship since she was two. One of the activities each week is teaching the children to listen to God. They have the children lie on their backs and simply pray/listen silently. One day shortly after moving into our house in Roanoke, I sent Grace to the playroom for room-time, but upon passing the room I thought perhaps she had fallen asleep. She was on her back with her eyes closed. However, as I watched her, I noticed she was surrounded by her dolls…all flat on their backs as well… Then she said, “Yes God, I love you, too.”
2) Were it not for a fiend of mine having testified to the exact experience, I would not have been in tune with how I feel the Holy Spirit has been trying to speak to Grace. However, I am thankful that I am continually reminded to be open to how God would like to move, because shortly after Grace turned 3 she came to me with the oddest news. “God spoke to me in my ear” she said. I asked her to explain. She said, “Like a whisper. I felt God in my ear. He said that I was to listen to Him.” Not wanting to seem surprised or doubtful, I simply encouraged her to listen to God. A few weeks later, I found her on her bed staring out the window. She said, “God spoke to me in my ear again. He told me to obey.” (So far, I liked the things that God was telling this child!) A few days later, as she was bouncing up the stairs, I asked her if God had been speaking to her in her ear. Her response was priceless…."No, I have to be still, quiet and listen to hear God. I have not had (made) time.”
Wow, what we can learn when we only take time to be still, quiet and listen! Notice, I said take. We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. No more time will be made especially for us. It is our responsibility to take the time to do the things that we know are beneficial for ourselves and for our children.
I hope this has been encouraging to you personally or maybe as a parent. Christ wants a personal relationship with each of us. We do not become “Christians” simple because of our parent’s faith. It is a choice that each of us is called to make. Will we choose to accept Christ as savior and commit our lives to Him? I am praying for you and your children today.
I do not have all the answers. I am still on a journey of growth myself, and my children are yet young; however, anyone is welcome to email and ask further questions on what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ, how to grow in your relationship with Christ, ideas for teaching your children about God, etc. I will do my best, with Christ’s help, to answer any questions.
Growing In Him Each Day,
AT
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are.” 1John 3:1
“Truly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
I have to confess the start of the process to teach my own children to spend time with God and develop a relationship with Him was not exactly that spiritual...
Just before William turned two, he began waking early. His father is an early riser and my brother is an extremely early riser, (2 people he seems to take after) so I knew that it was not likely to work out for me to train him to sleep later. After seeking advice from the above mentioned mentor, Matt & I decided to try to teach him that he could get up when his alarm clock sounded. As he was still in his crib, this did not take long to learn, and the transition to a “big boy bed” was super easy! When he woke up in the mornings and after naps, he simply played with his animals, blankets, toes, etc. until the alarm beeped...then he came running out! Sometime just after he turned two, I decided that he had earned the freedom to have books in his bed. At night, I would place his Bible on his nightstand to look at/read in the morning. I wanted to make a distinct difference between this book and his others, so when he went down for a nap I would put a small basket of books (Bible excluded) on the nightstand.
Slowly, we began instructing him to “spend time with God” to start his day. He, of course, did not know what that was to look like, and I was hesitant to tell him. I did not want to put God in box for him. I am not sure how many times over the years, he has said, “Mom, tell me what to do.” And I have said, “Go back and just listen; God will tell you what you are to do.” He of course, sees Matt & I reading, journaling, praying, singing, listening, etc., but given my son’s bent towards legalism, I did not (& still do not) want him to think that there is a correct way to “have a quiet time”, and I certainly did not want him to miss God’s voice because he was trying to stick to a routine.
The Blessing: William felt the draw of the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ as Savior last September. During rest time, on a Sunday afternoon, William came to Matt and said, “Daddy, I need to have Jesus in my heart. Will you let me pray and ask Him to come in?” Matt said yes, but gave him no prompting. William’s words were the overflow of his heart. He confessed his sin, asked forgiveness, professed Christ and committed his life. Amen! Praise His name that HE draws man’s heart.
Now, as parents I do believe that we are called to instruct, lead and disciple our children, but personally we have not wanted our children to ever feel that they had to follow Christ because they were being obedient to us or manipulated by us. We have a set morning Bible study; we are in our 3rd year of reading through the Bible in the evening for family devotion; and of course, I am teaching Biblical percepts over the course of our day. However, I feel some of the best advice we have been given is “to allow our children to see us vulnerable before God, ask God questions and praise & thank God for who He is and what He does in our lives.”
Grace just turned 5 this summer. She has been asking very pointed questions over the last year and even raised her hand at our church Sports Camp to say that she would like to have Jesus in her heart. We are moving very slowly with Grace because as mentioned, I would never want to manipulate her or push her before she is mentally ready. Grace is my highly sensitive child, but also highly distracted. She has had the same above mentioned training with quiet time and “be still & listen”. However, 9 times out of 10 she has chosen the route of “play with animals, blanket & toes” rather than books or spend time with God. When we are having morning devotion or talking about spiritual things, she is always quick to say, “oh yes, I want Jesus in my heart”, but truthfully, I am praying for wisdom on how to proceed with her.
The Blessing: When she makes a decision for God, I know she will be certain of her choice and fully understand the commitment. We have had a few sweet glimpse of the Holy Spirit working in her life:
1) Grace has been a part of the preschool program for Bible Study Fellowship since she was two. One of the activities each week is teaching the children to listen to God. They have the children lie on their backs and simply pray/listen silently. One day shortly after moving into our house in Roanoke, I sent Grace to the playroom for room-time, but upon passing the room I thought perhaps she had fallen asleep. She was on her back with her eyes closed. However, as I watched her, I noticed she was surrounded by her dolls…all flat on their backs as well… Then she said, “Yes God, I love you, too.”
2) Were it not for a fiend of mine having testified to the exact experience, I would not have been in tune with how I feel the Holy Spirit has been trying to speak to Grace. However, I am thankful that I am continually reminded to be open to how God would like to move, because shortly after Grace turned 3 she came to me with the oddest news. “God spoke to me in my ear” she said. I asked her to explain. She said, “Like a whisper. I felt God in my ear. He said that I was to listen to Him.” Not wanting to seem surprised or doubtful, I simply encouraged her to listen to God. A few weeks later, I found her on her bed staring out the window. She said, “God spoke to me in my ear again. He told me to obey.” (So far, I liked the things that God was telling this child!) A few days later, as she was bouncing up the stairs, I asked her if God had been speaking to her in her ear. Her response was priceless…."No, I have to be still, quiet and listen to hear God. I have not had (made) time.”
Wow, what we can learn when we only take time to be still, quiet and listen! Notice, I said take. We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. No more time will be made especially for us. It is our responsibility to take the time to do the things that we know are beneficial for ourselves and for our children.
I hope this has been encouraging to you personally or maybe as a parent. Christ wants a personal relationship with each of us. We do not become “Christians” simple because of our parent’s faith. It is a choice that each of us is called to make. Will we choose to accept Christ as savior and commit our lives to Him? I am praying for you and your children today.
I do not have all the answers. I am still on a journey of growth myself, and my children are yet young; however, anyone is welcome to email and ask further questions on what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ, how to grow in your relationship with Christ, ideas for teaching your children about God, etc. I will do my best, with Christ’s help, to answer any questions.
Growing In Him Each Day,
AT
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are.” 1John 3:1
“Truly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
Monday, August 18, 2008
Out of the mouth of babes…
As a follow up to the blog I wrote on feelings, I wanted to share what my daughter said today.
We have been singing an old children’s song…not sure the title.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
We substitute ears/hear; mouth/say, etc. and sing it through several times.
Well, today I over heard Grace singing, “Oh be careful little self what you feel.” Curious, I asked her what she meant by the song. She said, “Well, sometimes I feel a certain way, but I know what is right and true. I need to do the right thing no matter how I feel.”
Grace is my sanguine child. She is often ruled by her emotions. I am proud of her that at age 5 she is beginning to start to make an effort to seek truth and self-control.
At 32, I am still trying to acknowledge that though my feelings are valid, how I respond and what I eternalize as truth need to be based on right percepts and the love of the Father.
Oh, be careful little self,
AT
We have been singing an old children’s song…not sure the title.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
We substitute ears/hear; mouth/say, etc. and sing it through several times.
Well, today I over heard Grace singing, “Oh be careful little self what you feel.” Curious, I asked her what she meant by the song. She said, “Well, sometimes I feel a certain way, but I know what is right and true. I need to do the right thing no matter how I feel.”
Grace is my sanguine child. She is often ruled by her emotions. I am proud of her that at age 5 she is beginning to start to make an effort to seek truth and self-control.
At 32, I am still trying to acknowledge that though my feelings are valid, how I respond and what I eternalize as truth need to be based on right percepts and the love of the Father.
Oh, be careful little self,
AT
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Give me Your Eyes!
WOW! I heard a new song today, and it was so convicting. If you are on our blog, you should be able to hear it right now.
How often am I so wrapped up in my own world that I fail to really see those around me. As a family, we have committed to purposefully look for opportunities to share Christ. I pray today that God gives me His eyes to see and a new love for others.
Give Me Your Eyes By Brandon Heath
Chorus: Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah yeah yeah yeah
Until every tribe, tongue & nation,
AT
How often am I so wrapped up in my own world that I fail to really see those around me. As a family, we have committed to purposefully look for opportunities to share Christ. I pray today that God gives me His eyes to see and a new love for others.
Give Me Your Eyes By Brandon Heath
Chorus: Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah yeah yeah yeah
Until every tribe, tongue & nation,
AT
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Faith/Trust = Strength
Lately, Matt & I have found ourselves watching a variety of shows featuring survival specialists. Given our current journey, I am not sure what that says about our personal fears, but never-the-less we are intrigued by what some people view as adventure and the human body’s amazing will to live. From where do people draw their strength? Where would I be were it not for my faith?
In our homeschool studies, William and I have been reading about the amazing courage of the early explorers. It took a great deal of faith to set out to the unknown not sure what they would find or how they would survive…but faith in what? Faith in life to turn out well for them…faith that they were trained sailors or survival specialists…faith that fate would see them through….
One of the books we read described a journey to sea in this way:
“In crossing the Atlantic by ship…we could see no path upon the water or sign of the shore. And yet day by day the helmsman was in a path as exactly as if he had been following a great chalk line upon the sea. And when we came within 20 miles of land he knew where we were as surely as if he had seen it all 3,000 miles ahead. How had we measured or marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instrument, and looking up to the sky, had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly lights, not the earthly lights….so let us go forth this day, not knowing, yet trusting.”
WOW! That made me recall the verse in the great faith chapter of Hebrews, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed…he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (11:8)
Is that really what God asks of me? Just to obey and to trust Him by faith. I am sure I do not have the adventuresome spirit as those on the TV shows we have been watching, or the need to conquer as history has recorded the great explorers, but prayerfully I have the FAITH and strength to obey and journey where He leads.
When I look upon the “Atlantic” I am to cross right now in our journey to the mission field, I pray that I am daily choosing to put Christ as the helmsman & captain of my “ship”; I pray I am following the “great chalk” line that He puts before me; and I pray I am “fixing my course” by looking to the Son and not to the “earthly lights”.
I do believe true faith is not really measured when a person still has the ability to turn back around and head for shore. It is measured in the moments when a person is half way across the Atlantic and can’t go back or go forward….that is the place where we are right now. There are days when I look around and wish I could see the shore, but it is in those moments I choose to look up and see the “heavenlys” marked with His hand. The Son calls me forward and bids me to look only to Him.
I have found out that all the years I said that I had faith that God would send me to the foreign mission field was only just the conditioning of my sea legs. Now, I am having to put my faith into action by staying on the ship and trusting that the Captain will lead me in His time and His way.
Not Knowing, Yet Trusting!
AT
"In quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15b
In our homeschool studies, William and I have been reading about the amazing courage of the early explorers. It took a great deal of faith to set out to the unknown not sure what they would find or how they would survive…but faith in what? Faith in life to turn out well for them…faith that they were trained sailors or survival specialists…faith that fate would see them through….
One of the books we read described a journey to sea in this way:
“In crossing the Atlantic by ship…we could see no path upon the water or sign of the shore. And yet day by day the helmsman was in a path as exactly as if he had been following a great chalk line upon the sea. And when we came within 20 miles of land he knew where we were as surely as if he had seen it all 3,000 miles ahead. How had we measured or marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instrument, and looking up to the sky, had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly lights, not the earthly lights….so let us go forth this day, not knowing, yet trusting.”
WOW! That made me recall the verse in the great faith chapter of Hebrews, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed…he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (11:8)
Is that really what God asks of me? Just to obey and to trust Him by faith. I am sure I do not have the adventuresome spirit as those on the TV shows we have been watching, or the need to conquer as history has recorded the great explorers, but prayerfully I have the FAITH and strength to obey and journey where He leads.
When I look upon the “Atlantic” I am to cross right now in our journey to the mission field, I pray that I am daily choosing to put Christ as the helmsman & captain of my “ship”; I pray I am following the “great chalk” line that He puts before me; and I pray I am “fixing my course” by looking to the Son and not to the “earthly lights”.
I do believe true faith is not really measured when a person still has the ability to turn back around and head for shore. It is measured in the moments when a person is half way across the Atlantic and can’t go back or go forward….that is the place where we are right now. There are days when I look around and wish I could see the shore, but it is in those moments I choose to look up and see the “heavenlys” marked with His hand. The Son calls me forward and bids me to look only to Him.
I have found out that all the years I said that I had faith that God would send me to the foreign mission field was only just the conditioning of my sea legs. Now, I am having to put my faith into action by staying on the ship and trusting that the Captain will lead me in His time and His way.
Not Knowing, Yet Trusting!
AT
"In quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15b
Sunday, August 3, 2008
What in the world have we been doing?
Okay, I have been taking a little heat for not updating the blog in over a week. Well, I am sorry to say I am likely not to write anything this week either unless God is very clear and carves out specific time for me to write.
After looking at the calendar, we decided that we are going to act on faith that God will send us to the April training in Virginia so we need to start our 2008/2009 school year with the kids, TOMORROW! That has meant that I have had to pull together lesson plans, etc. earlier than I had thought. It was a lot of work, but we are geared up and ready to go. It will be a crazy week since we are doing Sports Camp at our church this week in the evenings, but it will all come together.
Hope you are all doing well and surviving the HEAT where you are. We heard a report that it was 108 at Alliance Airport near us!
Think Cool Thoughts,
AT
After looking at the calendar, we decided that we are going to act on faith that God will send us to the April training in Virginia so we need to start our 2008/2009 school year with the kids, TOMORROW! That has meant that I have had to pull together lesson plans, etc. earlier than I had thought. It was a lot of work, but we are geared up and ready to go. It will be a crazy week since we are doing Sports Camp at our church this week in the evenings, but it will all come together.
Hope you are all doing well and surviving the HEAT where you are. We heard a report that it was 108 at Alliance Airport near us!
Think Cool Thoughts,
AT
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