Daylight Savings

Boy has daylight savings messed me up.  I woke up at 4 am this morning wide awake.  Yesterday morning I couldn't drag myself from the bed.  Never has the time change affected me the way it has this year.  My body is tired but even lying down for a nap didn't work.  It's like my body jolts itself awake after lying down.  I have massage therapy tonight & hope that might help.  I need sleep!


The Titanic And God's Call

I just love the movie The Titanic.  I'll never forget the night in KY when God told me to go and rent the movie.  I'd already seen it at the movies when it was playing there and it moved me greatly.  But I could not understand why God wanted me to go rent it.  So many Christians had Xed the movie for the love scenes and stuff.  BUT off to Blockbuster I went to rent it.  My husband was out of town so I nestled down for a night with The Titanic.

Never would I have imagined what the Lord showed me during the movie.  As Rose was meeting Jack God had me paying extra attention.  As she ran with him around the ship experiencing things she had never before allowed herself to experience because of her position in life the Lord whispered to me, “This is what I want our relationship to be like Julie.”

Me…“What Lord?”
The Lord….“I want you to trust me enough to take you to places you've never been before.” 
Tear filled my eyes.
“I am wild.  I am beyond anything you've experienced before if you will just trust me.  Do you trust me Julie?”

I watched the movie with new eyes as Jack drew Rose to himself.  Oh, how the Lord wants to romance me and draw me to Himself.  He wants me to learn to spit overboard, dance in the depth of the ship, stand poised at the bow, follow Him into the unknown.  He loves me.  He's crazy about me.  He wants to rescue me from myself.  He wants me to chase him around with passion in my heart.  He wants me to trust Him. 

And in the end, just like Jack died for Rose, He died for me.  He died to give me life.  And as in the ending of The Titanic HE is waiting for me in Heaven.  Having made a place for me, maybe even my very own color.  But He waits for me with love and passion and a longing for one God has given Him to be his own.

His bride.

If you've never watched the movie maybe you can do so with a new set of eyes.  If you've seen it before maybe another run through will show you the loving wild abandon of Jesus.

He's nuts over us.

Resting in His Wildness tonight….
Julie


The day after one of those days

Today was a better day.  My hubbie came home last night.  I'm as sore as the dickens from yoga yesterday.  We actually got a little school done today.  Friends came over and played.  The weather was beautiful.  I got the boys new bathroom primed for paint tomorrow.  We started our first “living book” today.  I hope my children develop the love of reading and writing that I have.  My sinus infection is finally beginning to feel like it's ending.  Yippee! 

Thanks for everyone's encouragement.  It's so nice to have others who know exactly how I feel. 

On Tuesday night we read in Genesis about Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden.  It really hit me for the first time how God walked in the garden looking for Adam after he and Eve had eaten the apple.  My kids pointed it out to me.  “Mom, you mean we once got to see God?”  I had to think about it for a minute.  Then answered, “Yes, I guess we did.  If God was walking in the garden I would imagine Adam and Eve could see Him.  Now whether or not He was in the form of Jesus, I don't know but He made man (and woman) and wanted a relationship with them.” 

Can you imagine walking with God?  WOW!!!!  I know as Christians we use the term “walking with the Lord” a lot but have you ever thought about physically walking with God?  I mean, that's too cool!!!

Then tonight my oldest was riding his skateboard.  He's just learning (see pics below) and he's started to go higher and higher up our driveway (it's slanted) as he's becoming comfortable with his ability.  I was showing him how to turn by shifting his weight (yes, I got on that thing.  I actually was once really good but that was QUITE some time ago…don't laugh at the imagine in your head.)  As he started back up the driveway I mentioned he might want to try his new skill on a flat surface first.  He said, “It's okay mom, I'm not scared.  God is right beside me.  He'll protect me.”

What can a mom say but OKAY SON. 
Oh what a big boy.  I've noticed such a difference in him since his baptism last Sunday night.  I admit I've struggled with him accepting Jesus at such an early age.  The “was it real?” questions running through my mind.  But God has given me evidence over and over again of my son's transformation.  HE is so faithful.  I love you God!!!

Well, back to the Genesis story. 
So we read in our devotional about how Satan can hide in things that look good.  And it was neat to be able to relate it to the story about Adam and Eve.  So after our devotional we drew pictures of how Satan can hide in seemingly attractive things.  Here's an example.

You have to read from right to left but it says “Satan can hide in pretty things.”  I helped middle son draw the vase and the snake but he did most of the rest of it.  Isn't it cool?

Well, I guess I better quit rambling.  This has ended up much longer than I intended and my pillows are calling my name.  Below are some pictures of oldest son on the skateboard.

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One of those days

It's been one of those days.  I woke up ill and stayed that way most of the day.  I've heard “MOM” 10,000 times today, or so it seems.  Even though I got 2 hours away for yoga this morning my mood today has been something akin to toilet water.  I don't like it when I feel like a grump.  So even though I don't want to dump all my whining and complaining on you I want you to know I've had one of those days.  School today consisted of karate tonight and that's all.  No writing, no math, no nothing. 
Guess there's always tomorrow…..
Ms. GrumpolaIneedtolose20pounds

More pictures from our beach trip……
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Our Beach Trip

Not only did I get to meet a fellow homeschool blogger on my trip to the coast but we also had a wonderful time visiting my friend Sandy.  It's so nice when there are friends you keep up with regardless of where the two of you live.  I originally met Sandy and her husband when we lived in Hopkinsville, KY about 7 years ago.  We've been great friends ever since. 

We found a crab on the beach and I rescued him from certain death by finding another crab that was dead for us to pry out of his shell and let my kids see what it looked like.

The Alive Crab…we took him back to the house in a bag of water so we could watch him for a few days.  And to be honest, I'm not sure what happened to him after that.

The Dead Crab…we never could get him completely out of the shell.  His little tail must have been hanging on for dear life.

Our dead jellyfish we fished out of the sand.  It's the reddish thing in the middle.  We had a blast messing around with it.

Nothing is sweeter than a child's wild abandon on the beach.

My boys!!

Sifting through our discoveries from the beach/ocean

This is me and my friend Sandy when we went on a walk with the boys on their bikes.

I tried to Photoshop 20 pounds off of myself but it didn't work.  Oh well.  Guess I'll eventually have to exercise.
IN HIM
julie


A wonderful night

Several weeks ago my oldest two sons asked Jesus into their hearts and tonight they were baptized.  Our church uses the local YMCA for baptism.  My husband and our good friend and pastor both baptized them.  These are pictures from tonight as well as the sky God blessed us with tonight.  My husband and I had a similiar sky on the day we were married.  God showed me He was smiling tonight and that was a blessing and a confirmation to me and to my heart that all is well with Him.
He IS an AMAZING GOD…..


Eight Below

We went to see Eight Below today and it was wonderful.  Have any of you seen it?  My kids loved it.  My friend Sandy and I cried.  It's an awesome story about our love for animals and their dedication to us.  If you've seen it, let me know!

Julie


Adventure of the day….The Ripley's Aquarium

Today we visited the famous Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach.  Homeschoolers get quite the discount (over 1/2) if you ever get to go.  It's a great place.  My children love it so this year's trip was the second time we'd been there.

Here are some pics from the day….

Trying to decide if they are brave enough to pick up horeshoe crabs


As ABSOLUTE beauty in the aquarium…..

Oldest son as an astrauant going to Mars in their Mars exibition

Middle son always takes time to pose for a photo.  Complete with blue gatorade stains to march his jacket.  What a star!!!  But here is the star of the aquarium…..get prepared!!!  and sweet dreams!!!


A First for Me

Tonight I got to meet another homeschool mom who blogs on homeschoolblogger.com.  I'm visiting a friend at the coast and she happens to leave close by. 

So….she invited me over tonight with two of my little destroyers in tow.  What a treat.  She has a beautiful home and two precious children.  I was excited to finally meet someone in person.  I feel like so many of you are friends but I've never met anyone face to face, until today!

Yea!  ( Her Weblog)

Now it's time for some blog reading before bed.
More tomorrow…….
Julie


The Circle of Life

The Circle of Life…..
You know it happens but something about watching it happen on my back deck is unsettling…..
Note:  Bird feeder hanging from the deck.  Cat perched by the bird feeder and other cat waiting below. 
PLEASE!!!!!


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