Leap Day is actually a pretty sad reminder for me. It is not one of my most favorite days. I remember as a child it was considered a fun day, after all it only came around every four years. That little bit of excitement melted away 16 years ago. It is hard to believe that it has been that long. I thought that I would share what happened on Leap Day those many years ago to turn my enthusiasm for the day to one of sorrow, melancholy, but also one of hope.

I was 20 years old and expecting our second child. I developed pre-eclampsia with her and delivered her prematurely. It was severe and we both were at risk of loosing our lives. The doctor's said there is no known cause for this condition. I was an even more peculiar case because this is typically a first pregnancy condition. This was my second pregnancy and I had not had the condition in my previous one. They said many factors could have caused this condition, one of them being stress. I personally think that what occurred on that Leap Day past and the stress that accompanied it contributed to this situation with our daughter. She is a very healthy girl and always has been, the Lord has indeed blessed us!

So what happened, you ask?? I received a phone call from my mother. SIDE NOTE HERE: If you are calling someone with bad news (especially someone who has anxiety) DO NOT begin like this..... "Is your husband there? You need to sit down and have him right next to you before I tell you what is going on. We have some really bad news." Just tell me already! I was severely stressed out just getting ready for the news!

She tells me that they found my uncle. I am thinking, "ok, I didn't know he was missing." I ask if he is ok. The reply was no. ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: per my hubby's professional experience, ministerally and clinically, if someone is dead, say they are dead. It is concrete and doesn't leave people hanging or interpreting.

My favorite uncle had been shot in the back of the head while sleeping and drug to his basement and left there. He had been there a few days before they found him; it was rather gruesome. The time of death was determined by the coroner to be Leap Day, February 29. Pretty much the whole family blamed his teenage son from the very beginning. My husband and I were more gentle. We gave him the benefit of the doubt realizing he had just lost his father. Our graciousness was indeed given to a murdered. They found the gun wrapped in his blue jeans stashed away in his room. My cousin was actually still living in the house with his father in the basement. He was convicted and sent to jail. Just in the last couple of years, he was released on parole.

I have struggled with this greatly over the years for many different reasons. There have been many things about this cousin come to light. Some very heinous things that I do not need to share, but they bring grief upon grief. We seek to explain why things happen, but sometimes we just cannot find the answers. Maybe though the meaning of this is not to seek answers but to seek the Lord instead. He is the answer to our grieving, our heartache, and death.

ANOTHER AMAZING SIDENOTE: As I sit here typing those last lines, the lyrics to the song I am listening to are these.

Give Me Jesus, Give Me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I come to die
oh when I come to die
and when I come to die
Give Me Jesus!

Give Me Jesus, Give Me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

I have been to more funerals in my lifetime than I care to really remember. I can say that there is a stark difference between those who know Jesus and those who do not. The difference is HOPE. Those who are not Christians have no hope or they try to cling to false hope which fails them in their time of need. Those who have Jesus as their hope find he never fails them. It is by having this hope in the Lord that we endure and come out stronger. We still must grieve and sorrow still comes but we can rest in knowing that the Creator of all gives comfort, strength, and salvation to those who believe.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the is on those who fear him,on those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 31:22 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:20-22 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 130: 4-6 But with you there is forgiveness;therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Labels: Christianity, Family, grief, hope, Leap Day, sorrow

Can you guess where we are moving this time? We just moved to where we are last summer and we are moving again this summer. It will be a much longer stay this time though! I thought I would give you 13 facts about where we are moving and you can comment with your guesses. It really should not be that difficult! Just as a side note, we are all very excited and doing the happy dance about this move!!! Dance along with us as we rejoice!

1. There are more than 3,000 rivers and over 3 million lakes.
2. There are more than 5000 glaciers.
3. About 5000 earthquakes occur each year.
4. Three of the world’s ten strongest recorded earthquakes occurred here.
5. The coldest temperature ever recorded in was -80 degrees F.
6. Its name comes from a Russian version of an Aleut word meaning “great lands.”
7. The place's motto is “North to the Future.”
8. The actual city has an annual snow fall on 70.6 inches. Good thing we love snow!
9. The actual city temperatures are: January, 20° F; July, 65° F; annual average, 35.8° F.
10. The city is embraced by six mountain ranges and warmed by a maritime climate.
11. You can see the “aurora borealis”.
12. Be careful, you might have a moose on your front steps because more than 1,600 moose live in the city.
13. Did you ever want to see The Last Great Race, the Iditarod?

I couldn't resist...
Here are a few pictures of downtown in the city where we are going, isn't it beautiful???

Labels: Alaska, Family, journal, Military, Thursday Thirteen

I stumbled across this earlier in the week and laughed so hard! I am in total disagreement with my husband when it comes to liking the movie Napoleon Dynamite. Hubby thought it was funny and I HATED it!! The Lord of the Rings is a favorite around our house though. We both agreed that this poster was hilarious! Brian over at My Fake Posters did a great job on this one, we are still laughing! What do you think???

Labels: Laughter, What to Watch, Wordless Wednesday

Art Forms
Bible Forms
Award & Certificate Forms


To find some more great homeschooling resources just follow the geese by clicking on the graphic.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Train Up a Child, Weblink Wednesday

True wisdom manifests itself in the observance of the law.--John Calvin

Now for those of you who are screaming legalism, please bear with me. There are many who focus so much on the grace of God that they try to bury the law; those who do this fail to see God within the law. The law was given to point out sin and to show us that we could never be good enough for a holy and just God. It showed us our need for a savior. The law did more than that though. The law is also a revelation of who God is. Take the 10 Commandments as an example. In every commandment we see our inadequacy and we see the character of God. We see that we are sinful and cannot keep the law; this shows us the holy nature of God. Let us just name a few examples. The law points out our idolatry, dishonesty, adulterous nature, and murderous hearts. By contrast, knowing that the law is what is required of a holy God, the law shows us who God is; He is the One True God, He is honest, He is faithful, and He is life! Oh, May God be glorified!!

We cannot keep the law, we cannot present ourselves holy before a holy God. Oh, but the power of Jesus can! God sent His son to die in the place of sinners. Oh, May God be glorified!!

Many hold so tightly to that grace that they dismiss the law. After all, Jesus fulfilled the law. This is true but simply because it was fulfilled does not mean it was done away with completely. It was made full and complete, not discarded. The moral law remains in effect and we are to live in obedience to it.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. John 15:10

But what of those who cry legalism anytime the law is mentioned?

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2

Many simply use the cry against legalism as a way to avoid biblical obedience. I have seen several who use freedom in Christ as a way to avoid the truth of the scripture. Many are simply immature in their Christian faith and do not comprehend how the two work together.

So what is legalism? I submit to you that legalism is not the living out the law of God by the power of the Spirit. We are commanded to do so. Legalism is when the law of God becomes our means of salvation and our means of merit. Salvation and merit is the job of grace in Christ Jesus. Yet, we need not remove the law for grace to abound. They work together.

The next time you see someone who lives according to the law of God, maybe even more so than yourself, I would submit an evaluation is in order. Before exclaiming legalism or pharisee and dismissing them; perhaps one should consider that individual's heart or more importantly their own heart. The resistance toward another may in reality not be the other individual's problem of legalism but one's own sin of resisting the conviction of the Spirit upon their own life.

May we all exclaim, "Oh, May God be glorified!!"

Labels: Christianity, Conservative, Quotes

I started this Moms of Many Exercise Challenge last week. We are supposed to post on our progress every Monday for accountability. So first......

• I exercised my brain by trying to figure out how to get out of this.
• When I started this, I came kicking and screaming! Kicking is exercise right??
• I thought that maybe I could just sit here blogging and use the thigh master! Oh wait, I gave that stupid thing to Goodwill!!
• Blogging is exercise right? Lots of exercise for the fingers, but I figured that didn't count either.
  
• I thought about uncovering that elliptical in the garage, but I do not want it in the kitchen area and it is too much of a workout for hubby to carry it upstairs which is the only place I would want to put it.

So what did I end up actually doing this past week for exercise?? Well...... it is not as much as some of the ladies I am sure but I still hurt so it must be doing some good. Let me share with you.

The Lord brought a verse to mind as I was contemplating how to begin with this exercise challenge. The verse is Proverbs 31:17.

Proverbs 31:17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

Since this verse was brought to mind over and over again, I decided this would be a good place to start. My main focus is on strengthening my arms. So this is what I did last week.

• Lifting weights with dumbbells using four different exercises/positions to work the different parts of the arms.
• Squats
• Sit-ups
• I am also making a point of going upstairs myself for things that I need rather than sending a child to do it. More stair climbing.

Ok, so I told you it wasn't much. But at least I am doing something which is more than I was before. I do have sore muscles so I can tell it is beneficial. Right now I need to get back into the habit of exercising and I can add to it as I go. But for now this is what I am doing.

Leave me a comment and tell me about your exercise regime!

Labels: Laughter, Moms of Many Exercise Challenge

Yesterday was a bit of a crazy day. Not that it was overwhelming busy but because of the emotion of it on top of the busyness. Two of our children had Bible Quiz and Awana Games yesterday. Awana is such a great program; it teaches believers to reach higher and to reach out with the love of Christ. We had to get all of us out the door by 7 am and drive an hour to the location where they were held. We arrived home around 3 pm.

I am again reaching out for the hand of the Great Physicians to bring healing to our home. We once again have illness within our household. I think we picked something up the last time we went to the doctor's office. I now have several children with fevers and coughs. I will have to assess the situation this morning before I decide if we are well enough to go to worship. I pray we will be able to make it, I need to spend some time, reaching out and lifting up praise and thanksgiving to my Lord in corporate worship. If we do go, we will be going without my husband because Hubby is on call today at the hospital. He left early this morning and will not be home until sometime tomorrow morning.

Another reason that I really need to go is because I have an important prayer need to share. My regular readers will remember that my grandmother passed away about a month ago. I received this information from my father, whom I have not seen in over 20 years. He called again yesterday shortly after we arrived home from the Awana events.

He is having heart surgery on Monday, February 25th. Please pray for him. I spoke with him for probably two hours. I could tell he was very nervous about the whole situation. I am dealing with some emotions that I cannot even describe. He asked if I could ever forgive him for not being there when I was a child (in a round about way). I told him I had. I had an eerie feeling that he was trying to make peace before the surgery on Monday and that he is not convinced (by other things he said) that he will survive. He is also not a Christian. We spoke about this a bit and he simply said he just cannot believe. But jokingly said maybe on Monday he would.

I am dealing with finally beginning to have a relationship with a father I barely know and the possibility of loosing him right away, and knowing that he is not a believer. This is distressing in a way that I am still unable to put into words.

Please pray for him. I feel as if he is reaching out but is still unable to grasp the only thing that can save him. I pray that in his reaching out; the Spirit will quicken his heart to believe and that he will grab onto and cling to Christ. When we are in need, reaching out and calling upon the name of the Lord is our only rescue and our only refuge. Praise be to God!!!

If you would like to lift others up in prayer, here is a list of prayer requests.

Labels: Family, Forgiveness, journal, Prayer

1. Mercy~ May my children always "be merciful, as (their) Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

2. Respect~ (for Self, Others, Authority) Father, grant that my children may "show proper respect to everyone", as Your Word commands. (1 Peter 2:17)

3. Strong, Biblical Self-esteem~ Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are "God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:10)

4. Faithfulness~ "Let love and faithfulness never leave (my children)," but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts. (Proverbs 3:3)

5. A Passion for God~ Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You. (Psalm 63:8)

6. Responsibility~ Grant that my children may learn responsibility, "for each one should carry his own load." (Galatians 6:5)

7. Kindness~ Lord, may my children "always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Labels: children, Christianity, Prayer, Train Up a Child

Labels: Missions, PhotoHunt

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,for in you my soul takes refuge;in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,till the storms of destruction pass by.
To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.

Labels: Saturday Psalm and Praise

Labels: Awards, Blogging

Organizing the materials and books for each child is also important. I had a friend introduce me to this particular idea and it has made a big difference in organizing our materials. Each child receives their very own plastic bucket. They are similar to milk crates in size. Each child places their folders, math books, readers, journals, paper, container of pencils, and anything else that is specific to their course of study in these containers. They have a designated place for their buckets and are required to pull them out before school and to return them after school.

Visit CanadaGirl for more Show and Tell.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, organization, Show and Tell

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. (Proverbs 17:9-10)

I have been pondering these verses the last few days, since the Lord brought them to my attention. No one is perfect, least of all me, I have never claimed to be. I am, however, an individual of self- evaluation. I am constantly evaluating my life, my actions, and my motives. I strive to live in obedience to Christ in all things. Yet, I have failed over and over again. Each failure shows me my continued need for my Savior. The truth is, we all fail. As Christians we are to spur one another on to good deeds, but we are also to hold each other accountable and to rebuke our brothers and sisters in Christ so that they might come to repentance when they sin.

If an individual is one of understanding as mentioned in verse 10, the rebuke will go deep causing them to evaluate their life in light of scripture. If repentance is needed they will do so. The fool can receive a hundred blows without impacting their life in such a way as to bring about repentance, but one of understanding will evaluate their life at a single rebuke to see if they are indeed living in obedience to the Lord.

Does holding one accountable conflict with what is said above about covering up of an offense? Of course not! This is not meant as a "cover-up" and to look the other way. The rest of the verse explains what is meant. When rebuking another who is in sin there are guidelines in scripture; they are provided in the book of Matthew. We are not to over look sin in such a way that it is ignored; but are to deal with it biblically. We are not to spread that sin around and make it known to just anyone and everyone. Simply put, we are not to broadcast another's sin or failings. This is not the scriptural way to deal with sin and offenses, whether real or perceived.

Unfortunately there are many ways to spread gossip today. There are conversations in person, telephone, email, and even blogging. We must be careful exactly what we say and to whom. If we are dealing with a situation and are in need prayer and support, that can be achieved. I am not saying we do not need confidants or not to seek godly wisdom. Things can be shared without all of the "juicy details" given and discretion is required from whom we seek this council. One of the most common ways that Christians tend to spread gossip is in the form of a simple prayer request. We must guard our words and how much we share with others and it must never have malicious motives. This is an area where self evaluation is needed in abundance.

In essence, we are to handle things according to the word and not according to the gossip line. If there is an issue, present it with scripture to the individual rather than gossiping with others about it. If they are with understanding, the Spirit will move them to self-evaluation. If repentance is indeed required they will do so. If they are devoid of understanding, to continue would merely be wasting blows upon the fool.

Labels: Christianity, Forgiveness

Labels: Blogging, Thursday Thirteen

Today's link is for free art lessons from Visual Manna. Visual Manna is an awesome art curriculum and well worth the money spent. They have also offered a few free lessons. They have a link for a past newsletter which has several lesson included in it and a way to sign up for future newsletters. I am headed back there to sign up! I hope you enjoy the free art lessons.

VISUAL MANNA FREE ART LESSONS

For more Weblink Wednesday Homeschooling links visit SoCalVal.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

Labels: Wordless Wednesday

Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Nathan H. Hardy
29 years old from Durham, New Hampshire
East Coast-based SEAL team
February 4, 2008

It was Hardy's fourth deployment in Iraq, according to his father, Stephen Hardy, a professor of kinesiology a the University of New Hampshire. His mother, Donna Hardy, is an administrative assistant in UNH's psychology department.

Nathan Hardy grew up in Durham and was a 1997 graduate of Oyster River High School. He joined the Navy after graduation.

Other family members include his wife, Mindy, and their 7-month-old son, Parker; and a brother, Ben, of Middlebury, Vt.

Another brother, Josh, died in 1993 while a senior at Oyster River High School.

"Our hearts go out to Steve and Donna Hardy, and their son, Ben, at this incredibly difficult time," UNH President Mark Huddleston said in a statement. "We know it was Nate's dream to become a U.S. Navy SEAL when he graduated from high school, and he pursued that dream and excelled at it. His death has stunned all who knew him, and all who know his parents, who both are so much a part of the UNH community."

Navy SEAL Nathan Hardy died Feb. 4 after being wounded by small-arms fire during combat operations in Iraq.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived.

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Labels: Wednesday Heroes

Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed
By R.C. Sproul

Reformed theology is catholic in that it teaches truths Christians proclaim and evangelical in that it shares the Protestant heritage, but it is also distinctive because its doctrine of God is its controlling doctrine.

Click the link to listen to R.C. Sproul as he defines Reformed Theology.

Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed

Labels: Christianity, Videos

These are “singing science texts”. The complete program includes the text, tape or CD, and reproducible workbook. Each chapter in the text begins with a song. Memorization of scientific terms and concepts should be fairly painless as students sing such memorable lyrics.

Setting important science concepts with old, familiar tunes, they have created 18 songs teaching earth science concepts including topics such as plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals, types of rocks, weathering, erosion, glaciers, groundwater, soil, and topographical maps. Melodies used include Handel’s Water Music, My Grandfather’s Clock, Shendandoah, Souza’s Washington Post March, The Boll Weevil, Wabash Cannonball, and others.

The reproducible workbook has exercises to reinforce the lyrics and textual information and ensure comprehension of the material. The first exercise in each chapter set has students fill in missing keywords from the lyrics. The second quizzes on information from the chapter. This exercise varies somewhat in format. The third exercise is in short answer/essay format and concludes with some “Digging Deeper” questions which require some critical thinking. A complete answer key is provided at the back of the workbook.

DETAILS FOR THE GIVEAWAY:

1. Included is the complete kit plus an extra workbook.
2. The final day for entries is March 15.
3. Please place a post about the giveaway on your blog.
4. Return here and leave a comment with the URL of your blog post.
5. This post will remain listed in the sticky link above the daily postings for easy access.

Labels: Curriculum, Giveaways, Homeschooling