A Little Bit of Random

Why is "church" such a difficult subject?  Scott and I have been around the block about 4 times when it comes to finding a church home.  Maybe even 5 times.  I guess it might depend on how big the block was.  Anywho, I have friends who are walking the same road.  The journey around that block can be so tiring, especially when you have children in tow.  So what's the deal?  Why does it seem so difficult to find a church home for so many God-fearing believers?  Are we being too picky?  Hmmmm....  Are we being too inward focused?  Hmmm...  Or could it be that there so few churches that are truly CHRIST focused?  Gospel focused?  WORD focused?  I once had a pastor tell me he wanted a balanced church.  At the time I have to say I agreed wholeheartedly with me.  Not too much to the left, not too much to the right....(I don't mean politically.)  Anyhow, as I am learning more and more I am not sure a balanced church is Biblical.  At some point you have to draw some lines in the sand and the balance will be lost.  It's just the fact of the matter.  In the meantime, I just feel for those who are searching.  May the Lord guide you and keep you!

With our house being dissheveled for about a year now, I am nearing my total wit's end!!  Seriously!  Most of the furniture in the house somehow ended up being my mother-in-law's and we were left with bare bones.  It is killing me that things aren't in order.  The basement is in disarray.  Connie still has things tucked here and there, along with mutliple boxes in the basement.  Kate has a new room but it really isn't "her's" because it lacks "her touch" since we haven't been able to paint it a color she likes yet, or think about accessories.  Anna's room now needs some finishing touches to truly make it "her" room and not a shared room.  The living room is majorly lacking something.  The floor needs finished in the dining room area.  Window treatments are in serious need all over the house.  And I am going MAD!!  HA...aka CRAZEE!  It is so overwhelming to me.  I want everything done NOW.  I don't want to wait.  Everything seems like a disaster.  It is part of being a mom and woman, we want our house in order!  Yet at the same time we need to remain on budget, which is small!  :)  Too easily my eyes, heart, and mind are distracted by all the things around me that seem in a disarray.  Nevermind, all the things that are IN order.  Two girls who are happy, healthy, and confidant, growing in the grace of Christ's love for them.  A husband who knows my heart's desire and works so hard to provide for our every need and some wants along the way.  He cherishes me and the girls.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt his devotion and love for me.  I am confident of Christ's grace and mercies that are new each morning, sustaining me through this journey this side of heaven.  So, what does it matter if things are sitting in boxes because there is no where to put them?  What does it matter that half the floor isn't finished yet?  What does it matter that finishing touches are lacking?  We are a family...just the four of us, plus Cash. The rest is just details!

I am getting anxious/excited about next year and our curriculum lineup!  We are going to be doing My Father's World: Exploring Countries & Cultures.  We will also be using Apologia Astronomy for science with our co-op, art and artist studies with our co-op, and Spelling Wisdom (maybe with something else).  I am going to continue using Language Lessons (Primary for Anna and Intermediate for Kate) and Progeny Press literature guides.  I also want to add in Christian Liberty Press's Nature Readers - TOTALLY AMAZING!  Can't wait!  I want to incorporate more writing into next year, along with more hands-on REAL math!  I am getting so excited and yet we aren't even finished totally with this year!  Homeschooling is so much fun and I have big plans...at least in my head and heart! 

Speaking of math, I make it no secret math is not my strong suit.  I always got really good grades in math but I just don't really understand the why and how of math.  I have learned so much about numbers this year in teaching the girls.  Yeah..I know it's sad since they are in 2nd and 3rd grade.  Oh well...I love what we are learning and that I can learn/re-learn right alongside them.  Well, back to the topic.  I have to take some courses to keep my teaching license up-to-date and I am taking a Math Instruction course for grades 4-6.  So far I have only completed 2 lessons but I am loving it already.  It is igniting a desire within me to remember to make math FUN, ALIVE, and to let the girls APPLY it!  We have the perfect learning environment since we are at home.  I just have to think outside the box a bit.  I can't wait to see what else I learn and how it will change things for us this next year. 

Here are some oddball yet completely amazing facts I have learned this year about our body.  Each lung has 300,000,000 airsacs in it, meaning you have 600,000,000 air sacs (alveloi) in you.  Isn't that an amazing number?  Can you even truly fathom that number?  Did you know you take about 20,000 breaths per day?  This equals out to 7,300,000 breaths a year.  Isn't that amazing!  Did you know if you take all of the DNA out of your cells and line it up it would stretch to the sun back over 70 times?  HELLO!  God is so amazing!  I can't believe people want to deny Him.  I have been so incredibly blessed teaching the little people at co-op this year.  They are so excited about learning and I am always amazed by what they are able to retain.  We have made jello cells, paperbag lungs, and blood so far this semester.  It has been a blast!

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by what I can't accomplish.  I still haven't called my neighbor to see if she and her grandson want to come over for dinner.  I still haven't called any of the other neighbors or reached out to them any more than just our Christmas cookie deliveries.  I still haven't gotten more involved at our church.  I still haven't gotten more involved with the PCC ministry.  I still haven't started a Ladie's Bible study.  I sometimes don't read to the girls before bed and just send them to bed without even praying with them.  I sometimes don't even get my own quiet time accomplished.  I am behind on our church's 2 year Bible reading plan. Yet, somehow God reminds me that my salvation doesn't rest in my works alone.  Do I have a responsibility to do my best?  Absolutely...but these things don't determine if I am in or out.  I am so thankful.