Friday, April 3, 2015

My Girl, her smile!

 
It could be that this girl is just photogenic, I say it is more than that...she has beauty inside and out. Truly, I adore taking pictures in general. Put my kids in front of the lens and I just keep clicking. This was one of those moments.
 It is all about the lighting and she was there, dress and cowgirl hat and the perfect lighting!
I now look at her smile and it has changed. Her baby teeth have fallen out and adult teeth approaching her new smile.
This picture I will always treasure. Still my precious little girl!

It is well with my soul

 
 
 
For nine years or more I have been asked many questions about why I do what I do. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Or perhaps why are you so crazy....
Well, a conference I attended years ago confirmed perhaps one of my greater fears.
He asked us if it is well with our souls. I knew for me, ten years ago that it just was not well. I listened...
 Things were not well with my soul and after much prayer, talking and talking and talking (too much probably) we embarked on an educational journey that we are still on today. School at home.
School at home has always been more about school....it is about who are kids are and their hearts.
 
We have made countless mistakes.
We have failed miserably.
We have fallen flat on our faces.
We have sought daily forgiveness.
 
We have built up and broken down.
We have......I could fill in the blank with multitudes of words.
 
 I have to make a daily choice to get up and move on and persevere, especially when the days are not working well at all.
 
The hot pursuit to educate perfectly surrounds parents daily. Does not matter what choice is made-at home, down the road, on the bus, Christian or public. School changes us, for good and not so good. Character is tested, everywhere.
 
Character at the heart is what you do when you think no knows. 
 
How I choose to teach my kids will affect them, as well as the books they read and other curriculum they encounter. If I can teach them
to be diligent, wise, productive, independent won't it all work out?
No, not necessarily. Not always the way we want.
But, my hope is that what I have taught, continue to teach will stay in their hearts. The biblical truth they have heard will take root and the Holy Spirit will move mightily as they pursue truth.
 
I can present it, pray about it, talk about it but I can't force it. That is not possible.
 
So, I will continue to teach my kids about this incredible God and the gift of salvation through His son Jesus Christ.
I will continue to seek curriculum that will challenge them and change them.
 
I will continue to pray, especially as our first born son has just embarked on a schooling adventure that takes his learning outside of the home. Nothing is static here, there is constant movement and change which happens daily in life.
What will this season bring?
 
For today, I look back on a memory, the amazing transformation of  the painted lady butterfly that we observed right in our home. I loved the joy and excitement this brought into our home.
This is our school...not perfect but our place of learning...by God's grace.
 



















The Wonderful Cross

  1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.
  2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.
  3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
  4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts 1707


Considering my last post was months ago, there is no better weekend than this to begin again. The Easter weekend when we take the time to remember the cross. We remember Christ and His sacrifice for us.
This hymn is one of my favourites. I also love the version by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. This is my quiet time this morning. Listening to the words and taking time to reflect.
While I sit here I listened to Sara share the gospel with Katie! We have a God Rocks DVD called 'Rez the Rock that Rolled' and it shares the truth about Christ's death and resurrection in cartoon of course. I listened to here explain why Christ did this for us and sat in awe that the words flowed and were logical. Amazing Sara!


Remembering Christ and being transformed......





Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman - The Wonderful Cross (Lyrics)



Just soaking this in today......