Okay, right now in your mind play "Taps" with the trumpets. Shortly after posting yesterday, Scratchy began to act weird. He didn't want to eat and only wanted to cuddle. And we were getting ready to leave the house for nine hours. So we cuddled him until time to go, where we therefore put his box in the bathtub, no water of course, with his nuts and apples, and a saucer of water. I just knew it was his final hours.
About five o'clock, still two hours away from church time, I decided to run home and check on him- was he dead or alive? I felt he was dead and didn't want the kids to come home and find yet another dead animal they had cared for and got atttached to. I said "I will not cry over a squirrel. He would have died if we had done nothing, so we just extended his life a while and helped him to die in a loving environment."
So, I open the door. Silence. I knew if he was awake and feeling well he would be screeching. I go to the bathroom, and there he is, laying beside the water saucer. His mouth is open, his eyes are open, it is a for sure sign he is dead. I got my gardening gloves, cleaned out the things to be thrown away- the t-shirt nest he slept in, his food plate, the bottle nipple- and placed Scratchy in his box of leaves. I cannot do that ever again. Being around dead things gives me the creeps. Too many scary movies I guess. I just knew he was going to come back to life and claw my eyeballs out!
I carried Scratchy (inside his box) outside and left him buried under the leaves on the edge of our property where I knew the kids wouldn't go. I have a couple of theories why he died-
1. Before we took him in he was outside without food or water for 24 hours. He could have been sick then.
2. Until yesterday morning, I didn't know you were supposed to use a dropper, not a bottle, to feed them, because the milk can get up their nose and eventually cause pneumonia. We were using a bottle.
3. Maybe he wasn't using the bathroom properly. He did poop everywhere, but maybe he wasn't peeing.
I know I did the best I could, I know he is a wild animal, I know no one is pointing fingers at me that I failed and it's my fault he's dead- but I did cry. It's hard when you try your best at something and it's not good enough. It's hard to be results-driven and the results turn out bad.
So yes, I cry over a squirrel dying. I have a tender heart. I believe in life no matter if it's a human or an animal. What have I learned from all this?
1. Caring for the dying is not a lost cause, or a waste of time. You ease their pain and let them go feeling loved.
2. If I am so broken-hearted over a squirrel, I should be even more broken over the people who don't know Jesus as their personal Savior yet.
This world is full of pain which only makes me long even more to go Home to Heaven. Painful experiences seek to steal our joy, but if we trust in God, that joy is avaliable even in the pain. I like that song "Trading my Sorrows"- it says "I'm trading my sorrow, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord."
Joyful tip for today is : I am joyful as I trade my pain for God's joy.
He wants to make the trade. Will you let Him?
TTFN,
Joyful Jenn
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
We Welcome Scratchy into our family
Let's call this Squirrels, Part 2. After writing my last post, I went outside and found no squirrels, dead or alive. Later that day we were outside working in my veggie garden. It was such a nice day, but we knew it was going to rain later, so we were preparing the garden soil to plant in April. Austin, my second oldest boy, was walking around the yard when he found a baby squirrel. It turned out to be the first baby we had found the day before (Wednesday). I told him I didn't want anything to do with it. Unbeknownst to me, he went in, got some warm milk, and began feeding the baby with a dropper. It was eating, and letting Austin hold it!
My dh's theory is that the daddy squirrel, our resident Crazy Squirrel, carried each of the babies down from the nest after their mama was hit. The other three died of dehydration. So we named him Scratchy and brought him in. It has been a matter of guessing how old he is, what he needs to drink and what he needs to eat. The first day he slept mostly. Later that night he was up moving around, feeling much better.
Now he is able to crawl out of a large box. We have been feeding him puppy formula, nuts, and fruit. Yesterday we took him out for "rehabilitation and excersise." He was able to crawl up a three-foot log, he had a fun time out in the yard until he heard a couple of geese flying over head. Then it was "hit the deck," as he got low to the ground and started shivering. When he is scared he makes a high-pitched screeching call.
The most frustrating thing is the lack of consistency in what should be done with him. Between my friends, a vet, the conservation department, and the internet, everyone contradicts what others say. So far the most help I've gotten is from www.orphanedwildlifecare.com. I have pictures of him, but am having difficulty installing my photo software on our new computer. So I'll have to get those to you later.
Until then,
Joyful Jenn
My dh's theory is that the daddy squirrel, our resident Crazy Squirrel, carried each of the babies down from the nest after their mama was hit. The other three died of dehydration. So we named him Scratchy and brought him in. It has been a matter of guessing how old he is, what he needs to drink and what he needs to eat. The first day he slept mostly. Later that night he was up moving around, feeling much better.
Now he is able to crawl out of a large box. We have been feeding him puppy formula, nuts, and fruit. Yesterday we took him out for "rehabilitation and excersise." He was able to crawl up a three-foot log, he had a fun time out in the yard until he heard a couple of geese flying over head. Then it was "hit the deck," as he got low to the ground and started shivering. When he is scared he makes a high-pitched screeching call.
The most frustrating thing is the lack of consistency in what should be done with him. Between my friends, a vet, the conservation department, and the internet, everyone contradicts what others say. So far the most help I've gotten is from www.orphanedwildlifecare.com. I have pictures of him, but am having difficulty installing my photo software on our new computer. So I'll have to get those to you later.
Until then,
Joyful Jenn
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Nature Strikes Again
Yes, nature has struck again at our house. The victims? Four little baby fox squirrels. In previous posts, I have discussed our resident "Crazy Squirrel". He provided much comic relief as we watched him steal corn and drag it across the yard and up the tree, on his head. We watched as he chewed holes in our camping chairs for his nest. It turns out, Crazy Squirrel had a wife and four children.
A few days ago we found his wife, dead by our mailbox. She looked as if she had jumped out of the tree toward the road and missed. We knew it was his wife by her nipples, six pointed little things. Well, yesterday as we were outside enjoying the glorious weather, the kids found a baby fox squirrel sitting under the tree that contains their nest. Just siting there. He was so cute! The top of his body was a brown-grey, while underneath was an orange-red. He looked just like a large squirrel, only his tail wasn't so big and bushy. We decided the best way to observe him was from afar, so we moved away.
A while later, we saw a squirrel by my car. Thinking it was the same one, we took no notice, until, after walking around the yard we discovered that there were actually four baby squirrels. Two in the fron yard, two in the back yard. By my opinion they looked large enough to be able to take care of themselves. I did not know how to take care of a squirrel anyway. They were making a high pitched squeaking sound. I don't know how they got out of their nest so high above the ground, but it was obvious they were looking for their mama.
As we were leaving for church, one looked as if he wasn't doing so well, swooning and all. This morning I don't see any of them at all.
It is so hard, living out in the country where nature isn't always nice. Since we have lived out here, we have lost four cats, of which one had kittens two days before she was hit so I had to bottle feed those kittens, quite a chore! We had a stray dog show up whom we took into our family, only to find out she was pregnant. She had 11 puppies, 9 which died from the sickness she gave them. The remaining two I gave to the Humane Society. It is so hard for me and the kids to have things die all the time. We can't have any pets, because we know they'll end up dying. I'm afraid they are desensitized to death now because of all the death we have come face to face with by the hand of nature.
If we find the squirrels are still alive, I'll be sure to take a picture to post on here.
That's all for now!
See ya later,
Jenn
A few days ago we found his wife, dead by our mailbox. She looked as if she had jumped out of the tree toward the road and missed. We knew it was his wife by her nipples, six pointed little things. Well, yesterday as we were outside enjoying the glorious weather, the kids found a baby fox squirrel sitting under the tree that contains their nest. Just siting there. He was so cute! The top of his body was a brown-grey, while underneath was an orange-red. He looked just like a large squirrel, only his tail wasn't so big and bushy. We decided the best way to observe him was from afar, so we moved away.
A while later, we saw a squirrel by my car. Thinking it was the same one, we took no notice, until, after walking around the yard we discovered that there were actually four baby squirrels. Two in the fron yard, two in the back yard. By my opinion they looked large enough to be able to take care of themselves. I did not know how to take care of a squirrel anyway. They were making a high pitched squeaking sound. I don't know how they got out of their nest so high above the ground, but it was obvious they were looking for their mama.
As we were leaving for church, one looked as if he wasn't doing so well, swooning and all. This morning I don't see any of them at all.
It is so hard, living out in the country where nature isn't always nice. Since we have lived out here, we have lost four cats, of which one had kittens two days before she was hit so I had to bottle feed those kittens, quite a chore! We had a stray dog show up whom we took into our family, only to find out she was pregnant. She had 11 puppies, 9 which died from the sickness she gave them. The remaining two I gave to the Humane Society. It is so hard for me and the kids to have things die all the time. We can't have any pets, because we know they'll end up dying. I'm afraid they are desensitized to death now because of all the death we have come face to face with by the hand of nature.
If we find the squirrels are still alive, I'll be sure to take a picture to post on here.
That's all for now!
See ya later,
Jenn
Monday, March 10, 2008
I GOT TALENT!!
Sorry for all of you that were not able to come to HSN's annual talent show. You missed several stellar performances. My 10-year-old did a magic show, disappearing money (quicker than it does in your gas tank), cards, and even water (a good thing for the girl whose head the cup was tipped upside-down on!). He was really nervous, but got through it great. Out of all the enteries, my #1 pick would have to be Cailey singing "I am a promise". Partly blind, and only six, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand. That girl's got spunk! Second favorite was Stacy Gordon, a mom, singing Martina McBride's "Anyway." Knowing Stacy personally, it was a tear-jerker.
I do have to say, though, my performance was up there. My oldest son and I acted/performed "There's a hole in the bucket", and we starred as Dear Henry and Dear Liza, an elderly couple who discover there's a hole in their water bucket. To fix it, they get a stick, but the stick is too large. They try to cut the stick with a knife, but the knife is too dull. They try to sharpen the knife with a whet stone, but the stone is too dry. They need water to wet the "whet" stone, but
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET!! We wore old-people clothes and even false, nasty looking teeth. There were many laughs. I even got accused of "willing to do anything on stage." So maybe it's true, what of it?
On another bit of news, our homeschool network, yet again, needs a new website. You'll remember if you scroll through the blog that this was the case back in November. I had to come up with a new name then and I chose "Incognito." This time around I think I will pick either "Songbird" or "Dear Liza."
Well, my WIC appointment is calling my name, so I must go. I just wanted to share this verse today out of my Bible reading: James 3:17-18 "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiallity, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Our joyful tip for today is "I am joyful as I sow seeds of peace in my relationships with others."
TTFN,
Joyful Jenn
I do have to say, though, my performance was up there. My oldest son and I acted/performed "There's a hole in the bucket", and we starred as Dear Henry and Dear Liza, an elderly couple who discover there's a hole in their water bucket. To fix it, they get a stick, but the stick is too large. They try to cut the stick with a knife, but the knife is too dull. They try to sharpen the knife with a whet stone, but the stone is too dry. They need water to wet the "whet" stone, but
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET!! We wore old-people clothes and even false, nasty looking teeth. There were many laughs. I even got accused of "willing to do anything on stage." So maybe it's true, what of it?
On another bit of news, our homeschool network, yet again, needs a new website. You'll remember if you scroll through the blog that this was the case back in November. I had to come up with a new name then and I chose "Incognito." This time around I think I will pick either "Songbird" or "Dear Liza."
Well, my WIC appointment is calling my name, so I must go. I just wanted to share this verse today out of my Bible reading: James 3:17-18 "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiallity, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Our joyful tip for today is "I am joyful as I sow seeds of peace in my relationships with others."
TTFN,
Joyful Jenn
Friday, March 7, 2008
STRUGGLES IN HOMESCHOOLING
Okay, this is a big topic, so it may be a two-parter.
1. The first things we struggle with is the big decision TO homeschool. Maybe we always have planned on homeschooling our kids, maybe they are in public school right now. But when you really get serious about wanting to homeschool and actually committing to homeschool, that can seem overwhelming. Our society flows around having children, raising them until age 5, then sending them off to school. Not keeping them home for another 13 years! Many moms also look forward to having 8 hours to themselves with no kids around. Homeschooling is more than a full-time job, it's a way of life. Learning doesn't just take place in an eight-hour segment, it happens at any time, any where. You must learn to do all your things around your homeschooling schedule- Bible study, house cleaning, phone calls, appointments, and even working at a job, if your family needs the income. But, I will say, if you pray about each of these things, God will help you to adjust to this new way of life. To me, homeschooling is a better way of life, and is God's plan for many families.
2. Next struggle- WHAT CURRICULUM TO USE. This is another biggie. There are so many out there! You need to first think about what you want out of homeschooling and also how your children learn. There are activity based curriculums (Weaver); cheap, already put together curriculums that use a variety of publishers (Christian Liberty Press); literature-based curriculum that uses "Living Books" (Sonlight), workbook-based in which a complete curriculum is contained in a massive workbook, I would only use for younger years, (American Press Publishing), and curriculum that uses alot of free-downloadable books off the internet (www.amblesideonline.org). Just this year I have found the curriculum I love and that works for our family, which is the last one, Ambleside Online. I have tried all the others, and they are good, but I love to read good books, and there are alot of good books in this curriculum. It is reading-intensive, and alot of the books use old-english, so be forewarned. The best switch-over to this curriculum if you have already been homeschooling is to begin to integrate some of the books in to your current curriculum, then next year go all out.
3. Then comes your schedule. Many descisions to make there. Will you school all day or half days? Will you do a four day or five day schedule? In what order will you do the work? Your schedule will be unique to the schedule of other homeschoolers. You do need to make sure you are staying within the guidelines set out by your state. Each state varies, so you will need to your research. Some states require a teaching degree, some require the homeschooled children to do standardized tests each year, some only require you keep track of the time you spend homeschooling. VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK OUT YOUR STATE'S REQUIREMENTS BEFORE YOU BEGIN HOMESCHOOLING. Here is our schedule: We school for four days a week year round, except taking off the months of December, and July, and other weeks as needed. We school at home four days, but every Tuesday for six months we go to our homeschool network, for classes with other homeschoolers all day. So when I make out my plans, I plan work at home for us four days. I know there's no way we could be gone all day Tuesday and come home to do more work. We do most of our work in the morning, with a few things left in the afternoon. This gives us time to do chores, clean, play games, or go to appointments/field trips in the afternoon. As your children get older, they can have more say in their own schedule, as long as they are getting the work done and not putting it off until the last minute. Your schedule is your own, so make it that way. If everyone needs to rest in the afternoon, schedule it in. If you work two days a week, schedule that in. Don't set yourself up for failure before you even begin. Make it realistic of what your family needs.
That's all for now, the kids are ready for breakfast, so I will talk more on this later!
Yours truly,
Joyful Jenn
1. The first things we struggle with is the big decision TO homeschool. Maybe we always have planned on homeschooling our kids, maybe they are in public school right now. But when you really get serious about wanting to homeschool and actually committing to homeschool, that can seem overwhelming. Our society flows around having children, raising them until age 5, then sending them off to school. Not keeping them home for another 13 years! Many moms also look forward to having 8 hours to themselves with no kids around. Homeschooling is more than a full-time job, it's a way of life. Learning doesn't just take place in an eight-hour segment, it happens at any time, any where. You must learn to do all your things around your homeschooling schedule- Bible study, house cleaning, phone calls, appointments, and even working at a job, if your family needs the income. But, I will say, if you pray about each of these things, God will help you to adjust to this new way of life. To me, homeschooling is a better way of life, and is God's plan for many families.
2. Next struggle- WHAT CURRICULUM TO USE. This is another biggie. There are so many out there! You need to first think about what you want out of homeschooling and also how your children learn. There are activity based curriculums (Weaver); cheap, already put together curriculums that use a variety of publishers (Christian Liberty Press); literature-based curriculum that uses "Living Books" (Sonlight), workbook-based in which a complete curriculum is contained in a massive workbook, I would only use for younger years, (American Press Publishing), and curriculum that uses alot of free-downloadable books off the internet (www.amblesideonline.org). Just this year I have found the curriculum I love and that works for our family, which is the last one, Ambleside Online. I have tried all the others, and they are good, but I love to read good books, and there are alot of good books in this curriculum. It is reading-intensive, and alot of the books use old-english, so be forewarned. The best switch-over to this curriculum if you have already been homeschooling is to begin to integrate some of the books in to your current curriculum, then next year go all out.
3. Then comes your schedule. Many descisions to make there. Will you school all day or half days? Will you do a four day or five day schedule? In what order will you do the work? Your schedule will be unique to the schedule of other homeschoolers. You do need to make sure you are staying within the guidelines set out by your state. Each state varies, so you will need to your research. Some states require a teaching degree, some require the homeschooled children to do standardized tests each year, some only require you keep track of the time you spend homeschooling. VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK OUT YOUR STATE'S REQUIREMENTS BEFORE YOU BEGIN HOMESCHOOLING. Here is our schedule: We school for four days a week year round, except taking off the months of December, and July, and other weeks as needed. We school at home four days, but every Tuesday for six months we go to our homeschool network, for classes with other homeschoolers all day. So when I make out my plans, I plan work at home for us four days. I know there's no way we could be gone all day Tuesday and come home to do more work. We do most of our work in the morning, with a few things left in the afternoon. This gives us time to do chores, clean, play games, or go to appointments/field trips in the afternoon. As your children get older, they can have more say in their own schedule, as long as they are getting the work done and not putting it off until the last minute. Your schedule is your own, so make it that way. If everyone needs to rest in the afternoon, schedule it in. If you work two days a week, schedule that in. Don't set yourself up for failure before you even begin. Make it realistic of what your family needs.
That's all for now, the kids are ready for breakfast, so I will talk more on this later!
Yours truly,
Joyful Jenn
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Why I love homeschooling
Why do I love homeschooling? Here's my list:
1. We don't have to get up at 6 am to have my kids ride on a bus for an hour to get to school.
Before, they were on the bus a total of one hour and forty-five minutes a day!
2. I know what they are learning about, so there is no worries that they are being taught things
contrary to what we believe. We do teach them about other beliefs and religions, but with the
purpose of how to present the Gospel to them in a way they will understand.
3. They get so much more individual attention in a class with a ratio of one teacher, me, to six students, their brothers and sisters, compared to one teacher to about thirty students in a public school setting.
4. School does not consume our whole life. While they were in public school, there was always some meeting or group that we had to go to school for. It took up our whole lives, we didn't have time to do anything else. We are always learning, whether we are doing school work or out in the community. In our family, God comes first, therefore a church activity will take place over a school activity. Most of the time, though, church activities count for school time in one way or another. I see families who don't have time to be a part of church activities because they have too many school activities or lessons. It makes me sad. God is our first priority and we strive to show it by our lives and how we use our time.
5. If there is an emergency or a change in plans, I don't have to pull the kids out of school or wait until they come home from school. My husband was working in Sprinfield when he lacerated his thumb. We were just about to eat lunch. So we threw everything in the car and headed up there. Had the kids been in school I could not have gone up there to be with my husband. Our family really does have things happen that require us to leave at the drop of a hat, so having my kids right there makes it so much easier.
6. My children are best friends with each other. Yes, they do have their fights from time to time, but most of the time they are playing together, helping each other with school work, and playing games together. They do have friends from church and our homeschool group, but they are all friends with each other. In public schools, you'll find alot of brothers and sisters have different friends, and as a parent, you can't know them all personally or their parents. I know all the kids my children are friends with, and I know their parents well. That helps me feel secure letting my children go over to their houses, knowing they won't get exposed to all the "stuff" that is out there. I tell my children, they must learn to be friends with each other before they try to be friends with other people, because family comes first. You may not always have the same friends, but you will always have the same family.
7. My most favorite reason: I get to spend all day, every day with my children. My focus is on teaching them, not working at some job. My interest is in their futures, not spending my time running around to shopping, getting my nails done, doing 5 Bible studies, going to the gym, etc. I am not saying those things are bad, but compared to my children's futures, they are no comparison. As I teach them, I also am re-learnig the things I missed out in my public schooling. I love history and science. I read all the books they are reading along with them. After school is done, each of the kids gets a 20 minute turn to do whatever they want with me, like playing a game, or drawing, or practicing magic tricks. I would not be so close to my children and have the strong relationships I do with them if they were at school for 8 hours.
Maybe you agree or disagree with my reasons. Post a comment and let me know. If you homeschool, why do you love it? Tomorrow I will write about struggles I have in homeschooling.
Here's a verse to think on: Psalm 145:18 "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
Our joyful tip for today: I am joyful as I draw near to God and allow him to show me the truth in my life and about my life.
Until tomorrow,
Jenn
1. We don't have to get up at 6 am to have my kids ride on a bus for an hour to get to school.
Before, they were on the bus a total of one hour and forty-five minutes a day!
2. I know what they are learning about, so there is no worries that they are being taught things
contrary to what we believe. We do teach them about other beliefs and religions, but with the
purpose of how to present the Gospel to them in a way they will understand.
3. They get so much more individual attention in a class with a ratio of one teacher, me, to six students, their brothers and sisters, compared to one teacher to about thirty students in a public school setting.
4. School does not consume our whole life. While they were in public school, there was always some meeting or group that we had to go to school for. It took up our whole lives, we didn't have time to do anything else. We are always learning, whether we are doing school work or out in the community. In our family, God comes first, therefore a church activity will take place over a school activity. Most of the time, though, church activities count for school time in one way or another. I see families who don't have time to be a part of church activities because they have too many school activities or lessons. It makes me sad. God is our first priority and we strive to show it by our lives and how we use our time.
5. If there is an emergency or a change in plans, I don't have to pull the kids out of school or wait until they come home from school. My husband was working in Sprinfield when he lacerated his thumb. We were just about to eat lunch. So we threw everything in the car and headed up there. Had the kids been in school I could not have gone up there to be with my husband. Our family really does have things happen that require us to leave at the drop of a hat, so having my kids right there makes it so much easier.
6. My children are best friends with each other. Yes, they do have their fights from time to time, but most of the time they are playing together, helping each other with school work, and playing games together. They do have friends from church and our homeschool group, but they are all friends with each other. In public schools, you'll find alot of brothers and sisters have different friends, and as a parent, you can't know them all personally or their parents. I know all the kids my children are friends with, and I know their parents well. That helps me feel secure letting my children go over to their houses, knowing they won't get exposed to all the "stuff" that is out there. I tell my children, they must learn to be friends with each other before they try to be friends with other people, because family comes first. You may not always have the same friends, but you will always have the same family.
7. My most favorite reason: I get to spend all day, every day with my children. My focus is on teaching them, not working at some job. My interest is in their futures, not spending my time running around to shopping, getting my nails done, doing 5 Bible studies, going to the gym, etc. I am not saying those things are bad, but compared to my children's futures, they are no comparison. As I teach them, I also am re-learnig the things I missed out in my public schooling. I love history and science. I read all the books they are reading along with them. After school is done, each of the kids gets a 20 minute turn to do whatever they want with me, like playing a game, or drawing, or practicing magic tricks. I would not be so close to my children and have the strong relationships I do with them if they were at school for 8 hours.
Maybe you agree or disagree with my reasons. Post a comment and let me know. If you homeschool, why do you love it? Tomorrow I will write about struggles I have in homeschooling.
Here's a verse to think on: Psalm 145:18 "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
Our joyful tip for today: I am joyful as I draw near to God and allow him to show me the truth in my life and about my life.
Until tomorrow,
Jenn
Sunday, March 2, 2008
What's Your Story?
We'll get to our stories in a minute. First things first, we are still under attack. Sierra, my youngest, tested positive for flu yesterday. So there are about 10 different medicines lining the countertop for all of us, to fight headache, fever, coughing, congestion, and flu. Everyone, excluding me, has been eating next to nothing. I have been eating everything I swore off of- pizza, cookies, marshmellows. I have been on such a sugar craving lately I don't know what's gotten into my self. I'm kind of hoping our homeschool co-op is cancelled Tuesday due to bad weather so we can have a few more days at home to recuperate. Can you believe it? 75 degrees today and 30 degrees tomorrow, with snow. It's definitely March!
One reason I don't want our homeschool group to be cancelled Tuesday is that in our Bible study we are all taking turns sharing our "stories." We all have a story whether we realize it or not. Basically, your story consists of what and who was involved in getting you where you are today. Good or bad. No lying, no covering up, no leaving out embarrassing details. This weekend I have been looking at alot of old pictures of key people in my story, as I was told pictures were a must. It has been fun, but more sad, in re-living old memories. There have been alot of key people and experiences that have left deep marks on my life, not always in the best ways. But, that's my story. Someday, I may share it with you, but not today. I also found a box of old notes from friends in high school. Some were written to me, some were written by me. I stayed up late, unfolding each one, reading every one. After I was done, they were placed in a bag and are going out in tomorrow's trash.
After reading the notes, I wished I could go back in time, to me at 13, and give myself a little wisdom and advice. "Stay away from so-and-so," "You're really good at this, join that club." But I can't. The only thing I can do is be committed to raise my children in a way that (hopefully and prayerfully) they won't make the same mistakes that I did.
So what's your story? Who and what events have played a key part in where you are today? Of course, don't leave out yourself. We are all ultimately responsible for the descisions and actions that have gotten us in this very spot. It would seem hopeless if it weren't for that Bible verse in Romans 8:28 , "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." God takes my mess-ups and makes them part of His plan. How awesome is that!
Think about your story, write it down, share it with at least one person. It can only be used for God's purpose if we allow Him to have it and use it, not if we hide it in our minds. What's our joyful tip for today?
I am joyful as I share the depths that God has brought me out of with others." Who knows? It may be just what they were needing to hear.
Love ya all!
Jenn
One reason I don't want our homeschool group to be cancelled Tuesday is that in our Bible study we are all taking turns sharing our "stories." We all have a story whether we realize it or not. Basically, your story consists of what and who was involved in getting you where you are today. Good or bad. No lying, no covering up, no leaving out embarrassing details. This weekend I have been looking at alot of old pictures of key people in my story, as I was told pictures were a must. It has been fun, but more sad, in re-living old memories. There have been alot of key people and experiences that have left deep marks on my life, not always in the best ways. But, that's my story. Someday, I may share it with you, but not today. I also found a box of old notes from friends in high school. Some were written to me, some were written by me. I stayed up late, unfolding each one, reading every one. After I was done, they were placed in a bag and are going out in tomorrow's trash.
After reading the notes, I wished I could go back in time, to me at 13, and give myself a little wisdom and advice. "Stay away from so-and-so," "You're really good at this, join that club." But I can't. The only thing I can do is be committed to raise my children in a way that (hopefully and prayerfully) they won't make the same mistakes that I did.
So what's your story? Who and what events have played a key part in where you are today? Of course, don't leave out yourself. We are all ultimately responsible for the descisions and actions that have gotten us in this very spot. It would seem hopeless if it weren't for that Bible verse in Romans 8:28 , "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." God takes my mess-ups and makes them part of His plan. How awesome is that!
Think about your story, write it down, share it with at least one person. It can only be used for God's purpose if we allow Him to have it and use it, not if we hide it in our minds. What's our joyful tip for today?
I am joyful as I share the depths that God has brought me out of with others." Who knows? It may be just what they were needing to hear.
Love ya all!
Jenn
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