Today, A Good Day

Today was such a good day.  We have really made a turn in our year and are now positively progressing.  Praise the Lord!  It has been exciting to study Europe and the specific countries of Norway, France, and Germany.  It was so encouraging today when we reviewed map skills and the girls knew what was up!  It has also been encouraging to see them really gaining more independence with their studies.  I have to check things over though because like most kids they try to take short cuts or not be diligent in checking over their work.  We started doing Bible during breakfast and that has helped tremendously in keeping us on track and to start our day with the right mindset.  So thankful and pray tomorrow is another good day. 

Speaking of tomorrow, I am super stoked about being able to help facilitate a Lunch & Learn event with the PCC.  The Lord is at work in bringing together a group of like-minded ladies to love on the girls.  I pray the Lord will open all our hearts towards one another so we can build one another up in Him.  May all the work, efforts, and planning be for HIS glory, not our own. 

Random Tidbits

~ How does the Lord reconcile denominations and differences in doctrines?  This plagues my mind.  Paul talks about in Philippians that as long as the gospel is being preached, it is good.  I believe in God's sovereign plan and somehow it is all part of his plan...nevertheless, I continually wonder because it is all so confusing and seems like chaos.

~ I have struggled this year with homeschooling.  I have taken on a little more that I need to juggle.  It has sometimes left me feeling completely depleted and at the end of my rope.  Thus, I have struggled with homeschooling thinking that I would love a little more time for a cleaner house, a quiet house, and peace.  Yet, the Lord then reminds me that these years will soon be over and to cherish each moment...a cleaner house is awfully shallow in comparison to investing in the girls' lives and hearts.  I will rejoice in this season, even though it is so busy.

~ This past weekend I got to spend time with some of the girls who were truly my first <3 friends and sisters in Christ that encouraged me to walk deeper in my faith.  It is interesting to see the journeys we are all on at this point in our lives.  I pray that we all put Christ first and never forget the power of the gospel message for our daily lives.

~ Speaking of the gospel, in the last 3 years the gospel message has really penetrated my heart in a way it never has before.  Some of the reasons why I can't fully disclose, but one of the biggest reasons is because I have come to terms with the fact that I am truly a sinner in the need daily for the righteousness that can only be granted through Christ.  I can't pretend or perform my salvation.  While you might be quick to agree and think "Duh!", the gospel has been cheapened by today's church "methods", "programs", and society as a whole.  My pastor reminds us that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves everyday.  WOW!  Have you thought about your need for the gospel beyond the first time you "prayed the sinner's prayer?"  If you would like to think deeper and be more challenged in this area I HIGHLY recommend the books The Gospel-Centered Life & The Gospel Primer for Christians.  EXCELLENT!  If you don't like it, I will give you a 100% money back guarantee because I will definitely pass it on to someone else. 

~ Why do I need the gospel every day?  I am inclined to be so self-centered and focused on me.  I am inclined to covet a house that is stylish and put together.  I am inclined to lose all self-control and patience with my girls as they make poor choices, mistakes, or continually do something they know drives me crazy.  I am inclined to be lazy and sleep a little longer than get up and start my day in the Word, peruse Facebook one too many times during the day, obsess over the cute ideas and new recipe ideas on Pinterest which makes me want to rearrange my to-do list to accommodate time for me to be creative, and not effectively plan/prepare for the school day/tutoring session/week.  I am inclined to cuss if I make a really stupid mistake that wastes time and energy, like driving 20 minutes before I realized I missed my exit off of 270.  I am inclined to sin at every chance presented.  Thus, I need my Savior, His Word, and the Holy Spirit to keep me in check every.single.day/hour/minute!

Public Restrooms

I know this is completely random and strange as a "Hello!  I haven't posted in like 3 months but I need to get it off my chest how I feel about public restrooms."  So be it.  How can anyone truly understand the mind of a mother, at 12:11 am, who homeschools and does about 100 other things in a day (like most mothers I know)? 

I cannot stand public restrooms.  They really weird me out.  I know many of you (HA...many of you?! Who am I kidding!?) are thinking, "Well duh Cara, they wig us out too!"  I don't doubt it but today it just really struck me how much again I am truly wigged out by them. 

When the girls were getting ready to potty train I was a wreck thinking about having them sit their cute, innocent, sweet little buns on that horribly, disgusting seat.  I held off actually and didn't push potty training because I was so wigged out.  In fact, I would ask other mothers how they handled it.  Like most mothers I am sure, I was likely to stuff up the toilet because I would use so much toilet paper to cushion and cover all the UCK!  Many times I would (still do sometimes) nearly scream "DON'T TOUCH THAT THING!" as they would try to position themselves for balance.  Nonetheless, we survived. 

So today as I was waiting to see the dr I thought I better hit the restroom first.  I went in and there was a woman drying her hands.  I happened to go in to the stall she had just came out of and my mind began to race.  Seriously, how weird is it that we share these tiny cubicles with total strangers, actually TONS of total strangers.  Can you tell I was so weirded out by this fact?  Have you ever truly taken the time to kinda think this through?  Maybe you shouldn't.  I don't want to cause you to suffer from OCD or become a spastic germaphobe.  However, it is absolutely ridiculous!  Then I began to think about traveling, other countries and cultures, different kinds of bathrooms and conditions of bathrooms.  It was really weird. 

Now, as I am typing this, I am having another AHA! moment.  It is one thing that truly unites the human race.  Tolerance, race, religion, whatever...we all have to go to the bathroom and in fact, share it when we are out and about doing what we do.  Weird!  What is the best part I suppose is we have to remember, that regardless of who you are, as my friend Lindsey would say, "Everyone's poop stinks!"  Who cares if you are the President, Donald Trump, a homeless person, or J. Lo....poop stinks!

Now, wouldn't you agree with me....that was profound!