A Late Christmas Post

I thought that I would share some pictures from the holidays....Our church here had a cookie exchange for the woman of the church. It was my first cookie exchange and I totally loved it. All the woman who came baked 4 dozen cookies, and then we had a lovely dinner with yummy food that the woman brought. Then we had a devotional and then exchanged our cookies. All the cookies were laid out on the table and we went in a circle around the table taking one cookie from each plate and kept going until they were all gone. These are just some of the cookies that we brought home. If you have never had one of these at your church, it would be a great thing to try.
                                    These are some of the cookies that we brought home 

                                          These are the cookies I made for the exchange

                                           Made these cupcakes for our family....

              I also made chocolate gingerbread cookies...it was my first time making this recipe

     Then my daughter and I decorated them...not too bad for the first time making this recipe!

                                                           And finally...our Christmas Ham

Hope that you all had a great holiday!

Living Simply...

In our culture today, the more you have it seems the more happy we are. Or are we? Sometimes I get frustrated when the house and all its "things" are calling my attention, but yet the kids also need me. I have been tending to think a bit on what it would be like to live for a bit with no tv, and less "things". How would it change our family? Would we become closer as a family? I just tend to think that it would bring some peace from all the rucus that we sometimes get. You know, the noise of the tv that nobody is watching...the less mess to clean and more time with my kids...more peaceful time spent with them,time to teach them.  Less toys to fight over and less fuss over them cleaning up the way too many toys they have. Sometimes I think that it would be nice to clear the clutter and enjoy life  with a little less things. I tend to be one of those people who likes materialistic things. I think that it would be hard to get rid of some of the things I like. But I sometimes wonder...will we regret it when our kids are older that we did not give up "stuff" and a lot of the tv? Will we wish that we had spent less time watching the tube and letting it influence them in unchristian ways? Just some thoughts...

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LUKE 2:1-20

Wednesday Scriptures

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:7-14

Praise The Lord!!!

Tips For Homeschooling Moms

When you say your going to do it...do it.

When you see that your kids need your undivided attention...stop what you are doing and give them your undivided attention. Sometimes when we least want to stop and have a chat, is when our kids are most willing to talk to us. I think that kids often feel more important when they feel that we will stop what is important to us and focus on them.

Make sure to have some fun...plan a fun activity at the beginning of the day and then do it. When you plan an activity a lot of times you will be more apt to do it.

You don't always need to spend money to do fun things. Our kids love it when we play a game with them, play play dough, read books.

Don't plan too many activities. I think that many people feel like they are letting their kids down when they don't sign them up with all the sports and activities, but remember that spending time with your kids is so valuable. They will only be young once. Maybe keep it to one sport or activity a school year.

Moms...when you feel the need to change things that need to be changed...take it one thing at a time. It is so easy to feel like we need to be better and make things better in our life, but it doesn't all happen at once.

When you plan your school days don't plan too much. Get the basics done, and then try to fit in the extra things you want to do for the school day. Remember to leave extra time for things that may come up.

And finally bathe your day in prayer. Ask the Lord to bless you day. Don't forget to pray for your husband and children.

And when things don't go as planned...take them in stride. Remember your children are watching you. They will learn from you how to act. Teach them. Guide them. Our actions will be the example they get.

On the Beach

What a great day. We spent the evening at the beach eating ice cream. I love the evenings when we are able to end the day at the beach. There was a beautiful sunset that would have made some great pictures, but I didn't have my camera with me. There were clouds and the sun was shining thru them and there was this rock jutting out of the ocean. Made me think of the verse that talks about God being our rock. You know we always hear about God being our rock and our refuge in a storm, and it just would have made a great picture to go along with any of the scripture verses. It almost is like God's creation just speaks of Him sometimes.
I think that this is a great verse...
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

Christmas Favorites

Since it is almost Christmas, I thought that I would post a couple of Christmas movies that we like to watch.
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty Returns
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Christmas with the Kranks
Thomas Kinkades's Christmas Cottage...a really great movie. My husband and I both liked this one. A great holiday movie. Very moving.
I'd love to hear what your favorite Christmas movies are!
Merry Christmas!

Wednesday Scriptures

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, thet He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:22-28

Please Pray...

Please keep this family in prayer.
http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Sweden/201012130.asp
more of their story is here
http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Sweden/201006140.asp

This family also needs your prayers.  They are seeking asylum in New Zealand so that they will have freedom to homeschool.
http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/NewZealand/201012080.asp

Children In Church

I am a firm believer in children being in church with their parents. It drives me crazy when I walk into a church and feel that my children are not welcomed in the sanctuary. I don't like it when I walk into a church and they are so eager to get my children into the nursery or children's church. I want our children to learn to sit in the service and listen. I want them to learn to hear what the preacher is saying. I want them when they are older to have a love of the Lord and a good foundation in the church. When we walk in a church and are informed about the nursery, I just politely turn it down. I think that when children are entertained during church, that many kids when they are too old to be entertained either lose interest in church or they tend to find a church that is more entertainment and less on the good old fashioned Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now don't get me wrong, I like Sunday School and Awanas, but on Sundays, children should be in church with their parents. Parents need to learn how to teach their little ones how to sit in church. And when the little ones are too small to understand, then it is nice when a church will provide a mother's room where you can still hear the sermon, but can tend to the little ones needs. I think that too many parents tend to rely on the nursery because they don't know how to teach their children to sit in church. I think that it's sad. I know that this is an opinion that not a lot of people will agree with me on, but think about it. Consider it. When you have your children in church with you, talk to them when church is over. Help them to understand what was being said. Help them learn the hymns at home. What a great blessing it is to be able to raise our little ones to love the Lord!

A Link

I was over at Passionate Homemaking and I wanted to share a link to it. There is a great post there about us serving the Lord when we serve our families. Hope you check it out.

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/

A Relaxing Day

I was so blessed yesterday to have a relaxing day. This has been a long week that went by quickly...an oxymoron right? Well yesterday my oldest got his schoolwork done in record time, and we were able to have some fun. The kids played in a new tent and in the indoor ball pit. The youngest took his nap, and I even got to read. So nice. And there even was little fighting. I am currently reading a book that I have had for a while. It is called REVOLUTION IN WORLD MISSIONS by K.P. Yohannan.  If you would like to read it you can get a free copy at http://www.gfa.org/offer/freebook/. Really puts missions in a whole new light.
Have a great weekend!
      

Games

Can you tell we like to play games?

    I was cleaning a while back and couldn't resist taking this picture!

Wednesday Scriptures

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.


Psalm 139:1-10

Things I Would Like To Do

Today is about 10 things that I would like to do, or like doing:

1. Photography...I love taking pictures...no where near an expert, but still love it.

2. Sewing...can do a little but need to learn more.

3. Play the Piano...would like to learn.

4. Gardening...love to Garden

5. Baking...love to bake

6. Sign Language...would like to learn

7. Build a big sand castle

8. Live in Germany

9. Read thru my Bible in a Year

10. Go Parasailing

11. Learn to play the Guitar

I would enjoy hearing what you enjoy doing or would like to do.

Praying For The Persecuted Church

This post is about praying for our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. I feel strongly that we need to remember them daily in our prayers. We also can give where there is opportunity. The Bible says to "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-those who are mistreated-since you yourselves are in the body also." (Hebrews 13:3) Many of these brothers and sisters in the faith are often mistreated and thrown in jail. Many of their families are left to fend for themselves while their husbands are arrested and put in jail. When Peter was in jail, the Bible says that "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." (Acts 12:5) Please remember to keep these persecuted brothers and sisters in your prayers. They suffer much for the Lord.

I also would like to put up a link to VOM. They deliver Bibles to countries where Bibles are not available like China and North Korea. They also assist Christian prisoner's families and those Christians who are in prison.
http://www.persecution.com/
These dear brothers and sisters in the Lord have set such an example for us. Remember them in your prayers. It's the least we can do for them.

As a side note... Americans are so blessed to have God's word at their fingertips. We can get a Bible almost anywhere. We can freely worship God. We have the freedom to teach our children about the Lord, and we have the freedom to witness to others. We have the Bible...our best resource in the world and sadly, many hardly open it, let alone follow it. We should remember to thank the Lord for all the blessings that we have here in America.