Off to school we go...

We started a new book today in school. It's called In Grandma's Attic. I can't wait to read more! I may read ahead. This is the first book I feel like doing that with. The first chapter was a little story about Pride. I don't think Brooklyn totally understood it. Pride is something that isn't easy to explain, but after we read it I tried to explain a little more of what happened. The Grandmother told a story of when she was young. So, lots of words and concepts that are foreign to Brooklyn, but that's why we read. I just loved it!

Also, we've been reading about George Muller. He had such an amazing faith. I find with each story I was crying at the end, or all the way through, depending on the story. It's really hard to read when you're crying. I've been crying a lot lately.. must be hormones.

So far, we've just been doing a math book that I bought from a store. But she's enjoying it so much I bought a whole curriculum. I'm not sure how much we'll be able to get done before summer. But I have no problems working on stuff during the summer... at least a little bit.. and to keep working on her reading and writing. I think at this point it would be such a mistake to stop the momentum that we're building.

I'm off to the library today. I'm not sure if I'm going to take a little girl along or not. I'm still not feeling great, but the movies have to be returned. I was planning on taking Samantha, but I don't know.

Yesterday Brooklyn was looking at Samantha's cup with her name on it. She was saying the letters and said that it said, "Sabata".

I said, "Yes, it says SaMANtha".

Brooklyn said, "I don't want to call her that. I want to call her Sabata."

Attitude of Gratitude

First off.. I hate that phrase. I don't know why I'm using. For some reason it just rubs me the wrong way.

Anyway, we had a really great sermon on Sunday. But one thing that stuck me was what our youth Pastor said when he first said good morning to everyone. He said it was a great day, because God gave him another day. Isn't that the truth? Since we don't know when our last day is going to be, we should be thankful for everyday. And I know for me, this is something that gets easily forgotten. But, it's something that I want to think of more often.

I'm pretty good at being thankful for the big, obvious things. So I'm going to work on the little things.. like you know.. life. :)

Ever searching

In my search for truth, I have a hard time deciphering between what can be understood at a human level, and what is beyond our understanding. When I'm searching, I feel almost dumb when I don't understand something. I know that's not true, but I feel like people that are more spiritually mature than I am, understand everything. I also know that's not true, but just how I feel. I also know that if I ask God for understanding in an area, that if it's time, He will grant that. I need to do that more often.

Here's some verses that stuck out to me.. and some that a friend gave me in helping with my search.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Through the eyes of a child

Sunday night when we stepped out of my in-laws house we saw a beautiful moon! It was huge and just gorgeous. I pointed it out to the girls. Brooklyn and Samantha just loved it. Brooklyn said, "Thank you God". I was just amazed. I'm pretty good at being thankful to God for the people and things in my life, but just that Brooklyn thought of that amazed me. If I'm doing anything right as a parent, I know it's only with God's help. So...

Thank you God for helping me be a good parent. Please help me teach them Your ways and Your truth from Your Word. Thank you for Brooklyn with her tender heart. Thank you for Samantha with her free spirit. Thank you for Rebecca with her mischievous ways. Thank you for Trevor and the way he loves me.

I feel like posting, but I'm not sure what to post. My heart feels so heavy right now. I'm very tired, and maybe that adds to the reason. There are a few people in my life right now that are going through some hard times and I just want to take away their burdens. I can't... there's nothing I can do, but pray. I was reading my Bible tonight and just felt the need to pray. I couldn't concentrate on the words anymore and just had all of these people on my mind. So I prayed. I don't know how long it was, but I prayed from my heart.

Also, something happened today that made me want to keep pain away from my children. I'm not going to go into it, but I don't want them to hurt, ever. I know that's unrealistic. But that's how I feel. I had Brooklyn on my heart, especially tonight. So, I've been thinking about this for a little while.. and I finally did it.. I'm reading some novels and in them this mother writes letters to her children and husband, well, I guess more to her husband over the years... and then her children have them when they grow up. I wanted that for my girls. I think girls would appreciate it. I didn't want to start files on the computer, but I wanted them to have papers with my writing on it, with my thoughts of them at that time. I don't know how often I'll do this. But I do want to do it every once-in-a-while. I want them to be able to read these letters when they get older, and know how I felt about them. I'm a sentimental person and I guess that's why this appeals to me. My only problem is, I can't find nice writing paper. You know.. how people used to write letters to one another?? Anyway, I guess I have a good reason to be on the look out for that again.

Growing

Just to let you know, God really pulled me through this weekend. I was at peace and able to worship in the way I know God would want me to.

God really worked in me last week, and for that I'm grateful. I never want to look back on my life and realized that I was the same from beginning to end. I want God to be ever working in me, growing me and stretching me. I know it won't always be comfortable, but I know that He'll see me through it.

After Forgiveness

Even though there is still hurt after forgiveness, we are called to love.

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

John 15:17
This is my command: Love each other.

Matthew 5:43-44
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Check out 1 Cor. 13:4-13 if you need a reminder of true love.

I believe if you do this, love your neighbor as you love yourself, God will heal your hurt. I don't know how long it will take, but I believe that He'll do it and I will pray for that.