Nine and Loving Life!

She’s nine tomorrow!  NINE!

Where do the days go?  We surprised her by allowing her to get her ears pierced for her birthday!  She shops at Justice.  She’s sassy and bossy and has the biggest heart EVER.  She spent today helping her oldest brother wash cars to raise money to attend his National 7 on 7 Football tournament in Tampa in June.

She’s my baby girl, no matter how old she is.  The one the Lord told me would sing for Him.  My prophetess.  The one who talks my ears right off my head!

Happy Birthday today baby girl!!!  May God forever watch over you, forever keep you under his wing, forever draw you unto himself and may you always desire him with all that you are!

I love you…..mama.



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Posted: May 28, 2013 by |Category: Our Family, Our Lives | Tags: , , ,

As the Season Ends…

My baby girl has played an amazing season of soccer.

Cuteness abounds on her team.

We have this sweetheart who is a powerhouse.  You will see her on the Olympics one day, I guarantee it!

The girl can play some soccer!!!

This guy has the heart of a champion.  I just love watching him…

Here they are going through the check list with the referee (Is that what you call them in soccer?)

This awesome guy played goalie on Saturday!

This coming Saturday is their last game.  The boys games are over too.  My second born led his team to the playoffs as QB!

And our oldest won the Championship Saturday night.  7 on 7 is a fast paced “touch” game of football that is 150% for 30 minutes.  Their game are back to back and they usually play 2 to 3 games each weekend.  Touch is an understatement for the games are very physical!

I love watching the kids play and am so proud of all they have accomplished this season.

I love you guys!

**PS – for all you photogs out there notice the difference between the first 9 images and the last 2 images.  The first were shot jpeg and the last 2 shot RAW!

 



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Posted: May 14, 2013 by |Category: Football | Our Family, Our Lives | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Full Circle…

If you read my blog you know about my super lovely day a few weeks ago.  This is an exert from that day’s events:

Driving along in this broken-hearted state this morning I ran smack into downtown, stand-still, Jacksonville traffic.  There was a policeman amidst all the traffic.  I rolled down my window.  My own simple, small world persecution now began as this officer spoke to me as if I was 2 years old.  After repeatedly answering the same question he asked over and over I finally told him he was being awfully rude.  I didn’t know I was supposed to detour.  I didn’t know there was a wreck.  I didn’t believe he had the right to talk to me the way he was talking to me, however, he still chose to belittle me.

And in that moment my world collided with that pastors world.  My heart turned towards his pain and persecution.

I was stunned and shocked that this police officer was berating me in front of my children as I attempted to travel our normal route downtown to school.  Over and over again he “slapped me in the face” with his tongue.  My fresh tender heart began to harden.  Had I not been blinded with indignation I would have looked at his name tag.  I would have called to report him.

My indignation slowly twisted inward.  I was reminded of my fellow brother-in-Christ who lies in solitary confinement, beaten, dying.  Am I above persecution?  Is my life anything like his?  Absolutely not.  But, did today sting?  Yes.  Badly.

After sharing the pastor’s story I’d heard on the radio and my day with my best friend she called later for the pastor’s name and location.  I had no idea, after hearing the story, where he was imprisoned until one night this week. I mentioned looking up the radio station and finding his name later that day……but life took over, until….

I had the most incredible phone call with a fellow LearningRx parent in Boise, Idaho.  We were sharing stories about homeschooling and our faith, as well as our journey with LearningRx when she mentioned my recent blog post.  “Oh, did you know Pastor Saeed is from Boise, Idaho?” she asked.

“Who?”

“The pastor you spoke about in your blog. He is from Boise.”

Shocked that the pieces of my horrible day were coming full circle right before my eyes I intelligently commented, “No way!”

Only God!

How life went from driving my kids to school on a foggy Monday morning to my heart breaking over Pastor Saeed in part because of my local Christian radio station, to sharing the story with my best friend, to speaking with Lareina in Boise, Idaho about a fellow brother imprisoned for cause of Christ, to knowing his name!  There isn’t a word to describe how incredibly shocked and blessed I felt!

After finishing my phone call with Lareina I immediately called my BFF (teenager language – my son would be proud!) at 10:30pm hoping I wasn’t waking her to tell her the story…….

Saeed has been imprisoned while in Iran and accused of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was working in an orphanage when arrested.

He is in a prison FOX NEWS calls Hell on Earth.  Fox News also reports:  It has been almost a month since Iranian authorities promised Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith,  that he would receive medical treatment.  He has undergone months of beatings and abuse at the hands of his brutal Iranian captors, which has led to dangerous internal bleeding.

For the cause of Christ, for not denying his faith, for staying true to the One he calls Lord!

When I heard his story on the radio he was just placed in solitary confinement again with internal bleeding and failing kidneys.  My heart ached to think he may die in that tiny dark place I can only see in my imagination.  And now, each time I think of him, I pray that God would be tangible to him in that horrible place.  I pray as he reaches out his hand or curls into a pain-filled ball that he feels Jesus holding him, for HE walked the same path all for us.  For me.  Just so that I might have the chance to know Him.  Just as I believe in a God who knows all I also believe He gives us all a choice.  I didn’t know I would call him Lord.  I didn’t know I would desire His will for my life over my own.

Knowing I have an all-knowing, all-powerful God directing my steps gives me comfort to face another day on this earth that has prisons like Evin in Iran.  When my heart feels heavy with the weight of this world I can turn my face upwards towards a Father who smiles at my neediness, my “lack of”.  Knowing He loves the part of me that is like Him and the part that wants to run away.  Knowing He knows I can’t walk a single step without Him brings me peace.

And for His all-knowing, all-encompassing love, I am eternally and tearfully grateful!

**If you’d like to know more about Saeed’s imprisonment CLICK HERE and HERE

**If you would like to read Lareina’s blog post about LearningRx it can be found here.  Read about her here and to click on her website you can do so here.

 

To read more LearningRx reviews and stories from other parents visit: http://www.learningrx-reviews.com/



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Posted: May 13, 2013 by |Category: God Breathed | Homeschooling | LearningRx | Tags: , , , , , , ,

The Circle – God’s Way

Yesterday God brought my experience with Mr. Friendly Cop full circle…well, as full circle as my little brain can grasp.  I’m working on writing about that today but wanted to share Marathon Mom’s blog with you because I feel she is writing about something very important to our health.  Click on over and check her out HERE.

Until then I’ll leave you guessing how God used a extremely impolite cop and a pastor in solitary confinement in my life yesterday.

Ta, ta.



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Posted: May 7, 2013 by |Category: Natural Health | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Smacked in the face…

Today smacked me in the face.

Figuratively speaking, of course, but the mark is there.  Four red finger marks.

It was a rainy, foggy morning, not the best of Florida mornings.  I arose early to help at the kid’s school .  Nasty weather often makes for a cranky mommy.  Today was no different.

God quickly reminded me of my selfishness listening to the radio.  The heartbreaking story of a pastor who is being persecuated for his faith, beaten and left half dead is in solitary confinement.  My heart tore.  His family has been turned away when they tried to visit him.  His health is poor.  His kidneys are failing.  He may very well die in that prison.  No medical care is being offered.  UNLESS he denies CHRIST.

My heart breaks for the “alone” place he is in.  As tears spilled over onto my cheeks I prayed that God would be with him as he was with Daniel in the lion’s den.  I prayed he could actually reach out and touch the hand of God – physically touch HIM-the one he serves.

Driving along in this broken-hearted state this morning I ran smack into downtown, stand-still, Jacksonville traffic.  There was a policeman amidst all the traffic.  I rolled down my window.  My own simple, small world persecution now began as this officer spoke to me as if I was 2 years old.  After repeatedly answering the same question he asked over and over I finally told him he was being awfully rude.  I didn’t know I was supposed to detour.  I didn’t know there was a wreck.  I didn’t believe he had the right to talk to me the way he was talking to me, however, he still chose to belittle me.

And in that moment my world collided with that pastors world.  My heart turned towards his pain and persecution.

I was stunned and shocked that this police officer was berating me in front of my children as I attempted to travel our normal route downtown to school.  Over and over again he “slapped me in the face” with his tongue.  My fresh tender heart began to harden.  Had I not been blinded with indignation I would have looked at his name tag.  I would have called to report him.

My indignation slowly twisted inward.  I was reminded of my fellow brother-in-Christ who lies in solitary confinement, beaten, dying.  Am I above persecution?  Is my life anything like his?  Absolutely not.  But, did today sting?  Yes.  Badly.

Another very real thought slipped into my heart.  “How many times have I spoken to others in the same manner?”  Especially my own children.  When have I blown off steam by stomping on someone else’s heart?

I choked back my tears as I continued to drive.  We arrived at school and I expected everyone to see my broken heart, my wounded spirit.  It was well hidden.

Again the whispering…..’How often do I ignore another’s broken heart.”  I can’t count the times I halfway listen or don’t listen at all.

And why are people mean to one another?  Mr. Policeman could have as easily said, “There is an accident up ahead.  We are diverting traffic .  Would you please use that lane.”  Instead, he verbally abused me with his attitude, tongue and heart.  It stung.

I admit I rarely feel the ugliness of the world we live in.  My circle is pretty small.  I homeschooled my children until this school year.  I’m not in corporate America.  The people in my life become my friends.  I feel blessed by the people God has tucked into the crevices of my life.

I penned this post first by hand.  Four pages of cursive writing…something I rarely do these days.  I’m still tender…stinging.  But I think of my brother in prison……

Imprisoned because of his faith.  Beaten for Christ.  Likely to die all alone.  Wounded.  Broken.  Just like Christ.

Oh, but that all of our lives are lived for HIM.

In the words of Ken Gire who wrote Intense Moments with the Savior: Learning to Feel:

“Lord, come.  And for the sake of the children, come quickly.”



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Posted: May 1, 2013 by |Category: God Breathed | Our Family, Our Lives | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Road Trip – WAR EAGLE!

This weekend most of my family will be going to Auburn for the Spring Game.  We are all excited.  After this weekend the trees at Tumors Corner will be cut down – the rolling tradition of those beautiful oaks ruined by a crazy rival football fan.  After this weekend the games will exclude the rolling of the trees.

I’m wondering if the stores in Auburn will have to reduce their toilet paper inventory for the fall.

Auburn fans rolled those trees with a lot of toilet paper!!

Oak Trees Poisoned at Auburn

Oak Trees Poisoned at Auburn

ESPN Article here.  AP Photo DAVE MARTIN

Now the poor trees look like this:dead tumors oaks

Photo credit and story here

 

So we’ll go do what my husband and sons love most (well, after Jesus and me!)!  Auburn football!

My third arm (camera) will be ready to record it all!!!

So have a great weekend and remember:  WAR EAGLE!



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Posted: April 17, 2013 by |Category: Football | Our Family, Our Lives | Tags: , , , , , ,

Are you ready to rumble?

It’s begun!

7 on 7 League football practice for one son and soccer for baby girl!  Soon son #2 begins flag football for his school.  Our first ever school football team!  I’m so excited.

So here’s a peak at #1 son doing his “thang”.  Have a great day!

What a catch!!



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Posted: February 22, 2013 by |Category: Football | Tags: , ,

Showing up…

Scooper blogged about showing up today because that is sometimes all we can do!

I found her words comforting:

It’s times like this when my blog can feel like a pet, yet another thing that looks to me to be fed and nurtured. But because I care deeply about this space and its value in my life, I resolve to come back, time and again, even when the well seems too deep to prime. 

 A funny thing happens most every time I click on “new post” and see the blank digital canvas staring back at me. I feel like I’m home. The white space welcomes me to come on in and get comfortable, even if I was reluctant to show up in the first place. Sometimes you just have to show up.

I also stare at my canvas and think, “Do I have anything to say that anyone really wants to hear?”  Maybe.  Maybe not.  If others glean any insights from my blog I’m thankful.

 

I’m two classes into a class called Love and Logic.  It’s changing my life.  The principles are simple.  Love builds relationship.  Logic allows for natural consequences.  It’s teaching me how to build up my kids, enjoy them, and allow natural consequences.  This involves a lot of tongue biting, allowing them to own their problems and their lives!  I’ve discovered I am a recovering helicopter parent; continually hovering. (nice!)

 

Particularly impacting me this week has been the notion of ignoring my children’s weaknesses and building their strengths.  Ah, I don’t think I’ve been doing this!

Adult life doesn’t work that way.  We concentrate on our strengths and find people around us to help shore up our weaknesses.  We are encouraged to ask ourselves, “What am I good at?”.  We take that one thing and we nurture it.  We sometimes build a business around it.  We make money with it.  We contribute with it….very often on just one strength.

 

How do I emphasize the good?  Love and Logic says to concentrate on praising the good and brush over the weakness.  So…. Little Johnny brings home his week’s work and your are looking over it, you might say……“A in Math?  Great!  D in Science?  Think that might improve? Ok!”  You do this and, get this part, nothing else is said.  (Gulp!)

 

So I keep telling myself:

Reinforce the positive.  Ignore the negative.  No one is good at everything.  Most people are good at just a couple things.

 

If my son makes a bad grade can’t I lovingly reassure him that there will be other tests?  If he habitually doesn’t study do I nag him or reassure him that 5th grade will be there again next year, allowing him to deal with the natural consequences of not studying!  Or could I ask him, “What do you think about that?” or “What do you think you are going to do differently?”  Toddlers walk at all different ages.  But there is this norm for our kids to finish school in 12 years.

  • Might it be more acceptable that some kids finish school in 10 years and some in 14 years?
  • Do we care if Little Johnny walked at 9 months and Little David at 14 months?
  • Can I change my mindset so I am helping my kids develop and celebrate what they are good at by concentrating on those things?

What if we asked “Why did you get this problem right?” instead of “Why did you get that problem wrong?”  Love and Logic says that when you ask the first question and it’s a harder question to answer.  It makes the child think.  So maybe you give him options like…..

  • You either cheated OR
  • You tried hard OR
  • You’re getting better in Math

If he chooses, “I tried hard.” then it’s branded on his subconscious mind.  No matter how many times we say, “You do better when you try hard!” it will not stick the way it does when he says it.  And if we are looking over graded papers several times a week always asking the same question then he’s repeating that week after week.  What does he learn?  If I try hard I do well.

 

If we were to graph our strengths and weaknesses we’d most likely see something that looked like a mountain range.  Love and Logic is teaching me that when we focus on what we do well the entire mountain range rises, both strengths and weaknesses.  If self-image is the most important variable wouldn’t it make sense that  strengths would naturally rise as would weaknesses because we have the confidence we need to try something we aren’t so good at!

 

So I’m trying to build my children’s self-images by concentrating on their strengths, not weaknesses.  Praise the good; ignore the bad, while allowing natural consequences.  And I’m doing the same in my own life!  I certainly know things I do well and not so well, but when viewing myself as lovingly created by THE CREATOR the weaknesses are ok!  That’s where HE shores me up!

(Much of this wisdom accredited to Love and Logic and the CD entitled  Winning the Homework Battle by Jim Fay and Foster Cline, M.D.)

 



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Posted: February 6, 2013 by |Category: Parenting | Tags: ,

What would you do?

What would you do if you knew you would not fail?

That question changed my life this week.



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Posted: January 22, 2013 by |Category: God Breathed | Tags: , ,

From Homeschooling to School (The Realm of the Unknown)

Just recently my good friend IRL (in real life), The Scooper, dished on her family’s transition from homeschooling to school in her most recent post:

School Decisions: Finding Your Family’s Path & Walking in Freedom

I’ve walked beside her as she took the brave and scary step to enter this realm of the unknown.  As homeschool moms there is so much encouragement in our decision to homeschool.  Although there are adversities if you have “your people” you have lots of support.  Scooper admits she has ONE friend who has gone before her on this journey.  ONE.

I can say I have Two.  Two, including Scooper, who have walked this path just one year before me.  I am so thankful for their support in our family’s decision.  Their encouraging words have been a life line to me at times.  Scooper says it well:  “Even though homeschoolers are still greatly in the minority, there is a lot of online support and often much personal, community support for making the switch. It’s a countercultural decision and as I’ve said before, you need your people. I know I did. I’m thankful that such support exists; I know it hasn’t always been the case.”

The switch is difficult.  I, like Scooper, yearn to base my decisions on what God wants for my children.  I am a Christian.  I’m a Believer.  And in my heart of hearts I long for heaven.  When my kids were little my life required a lot of physical work.  As they have grown into 14, almost 13, 11 and 8 I find I now spend more time and energy on emotional things.  I no longer change diapers, rope them in for nap time or feed them with those sweet baby spoons.

Now I spend my energy tightly curling back fingers that I have woven into their lives, allowing them to grow into the person God wants them to be.  For me, this means learning to let them fail within the safe confines of our home so when they leave they do so as strong, God-loving adults.

I know many moms struggle with some of the same voices I do.  We often feel entirely responsible for our children, their grades, their dress, their friends, their attitudes.  But I’m learning, ever so slowly, to remove myself from their lives in healthy ways as to allow them growth and maturity.

And again I find God leading me through these unchartered waters.  From Scooper:    Allow me to share what I’m discovering:

  • Sometimes God leads us through His word. This was one of the ways he confirmed, for us, the decision to homeschool nearly six years ago.
  • Sometimes God leads us through prayer and meditation as we seek answers.
  • Sometimes God leads us as the Holy Spirit moves and leads in powerful and unmistakable ways.
  • Other times it is a still, small voice.  Sometimes God leads through wise counsel.
  • Sometimes God leads through the guidance of our spouse.
  • And sometimes God leads through circumstances and common sense.

For me it’s been the prayers and love of good friends, words from my husband, circumstances and God slowly opening my eyes to see that he has something better for my family than “the stuck place” I’ve felt we were in.  The merry-go-round of life.  The beating my head against the same wall and expecting different results.

I tend to glorify our years of homeschooling when I think back.  Yes, they were precious and they were sweet as we intertwined our lives with the sweet families God placed around us as “our people”.  There were park days and field trips and snuggle days with Barney, Blues Clues and lunches filled with jelly beans and PB&J.  There were also times I wanted to bang my head against the wall and scream, “I’m only one person!”  With four children depending upon me I took it upon myself to be their all and all.  Dare I stop her to ask myself, “In what way was I serving myself and not my kids?”  How does that get all messed up inside?  When did I depart from God first; me, my husband and my marriage second; and my children third?  When did they become the rulers of my universe?  Why did I let them?

I’ve never been one to say I need to be needed.  But as I dig deep within myself I wonder……”Did I need to be needed without even realizing it or did I accept the role of caretaker of the universe because I felt it my duty?”  Or maybe it just made me feel important. (ouch!)

The transition from homeschooling to school has been so difficult for me.  However difficult I’m beginning to learn to walk in the FREEDOM God has set before me.  I’m taking baby steps.  It’s hard.  Sometimes I cry all the way home from dropping the kids off at school and walk into a quiet house and wonder what to do with myself.

The Lord cautions me away from busyness.  He calls me into quiet.  There are days I feel I’ve accomplished nothing and days I feel successful.  And I wonder about the labels we place on things.  What is success?  I think back on Scooper’s words: “Trust that God has the right training ground for your kid and it may not be the one you’d planned. Your hope is not in a formula; it’s in a Person. Though we lead and guide our children, we too are led and guided by our own Shepherd.”

I’m holding tightly to my Shepherd’s hand as I continue down the path into the realm of the unknown.

Follow me on Facebook:  RaisingThreeKnightsandaPrincess and JulieRiddleWorthy

 



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Posted: January 17, 2013 by |Category: Homeschooling | Parenting | Tags: , , , ,
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