sometimes if you can't beat them you just join them…

While we were in NC for Thanksgiving we got the entire family together for a family portrait.  Pictured here are my mom and dad, my sister-in-law's parents, my brother and his family and my sister and her family.  Quite a crew aren't we?

Don't forget to enter my Thanksgiving photo contest!!

Beginning to homeschool this year and then writing the Tip of the Day this month has left me feeling out of touch with my own blog.  It's been busy here!  Today has been the first really cold day of the year.  It's cloudy and such a good day to be inside all nice and toasty. 

We've begun work on the tree house which is our children's Christmas present this year.  So any of you out there who read my blog and want to buy my kids Christmas presents anything  for their tree house would be “way cool”. 

We talked about a family flag today to stake our claim over the tree house.  I asked the kids to begin to think about what they might like to paint on a flag.  To be honest, nothing sounds cooler than a skull and crossbones with our last name if bold black letters but I guess as a Christian homeschooling mom I ought to be about to come up with something with as much testosterone but more original, huh??  Any ideas? 

We talked about pilgrims, turkeys, indians and the mayflower today.  You know you have a house full of boys when all they want to talk about is who won the war between the indians and the “white man” and where they got to put their flag….staking their claim.  “Focus boys!  Focus”

The boys have their football banquet tonight but with our 2 year old feeling poorly I think I may stay at home. 

Well that's about all going on here today.  Let me know if you come up with any cool ideas for a family flag.

Julie

Last night my husband and I went seperate ways as I went to work on my scrapbooks and he took two of our sons to a local high school football game. 

TL Hanna High School is the home of the Yellow Jackets and the movie, RADIO by Sony pictures.  We enjoyed watching the movie last year since it was based upon a true story right here in our back yard.  Did any of you see the movie?

God has a such a unique and personal way of showing each one of us his love.  My husband got to experience this personal and loving God's hand Friday night.

After my husband and 2 boys had perched themselves in the bleachers to watch the game and guess who God brings to their remote little section of the bleachers but Coach Jones from the movie!  And after a bit…Radio, himself.  I think my husband was in shock.  He called me several times while I was scrapbooking just to tell me about what was going on.  I could hear the excitement in his voice, like a little boy in a candy store full of footballs!!!

He was so excited to be sitting there with two legends in high school football.  He said both the coach and Radio just welcomed them into their intimate friendship circle.  He was so blessed! 

This made me think about how God knows what each one of us has deep in our hearts.  He's the only one who can reach into our hearts and touch that wonderful spot that only HE knows about.  What a great God we serve!! 

When I finally got home from scrapbooking my husband was just coming off of the high he'd been on at the game.  Then this morning it began all over again.  You could hear the excitement in his voice as he kept remembering things from last night. 

I'm so glad God let him know how special he is to Him.  Only God could arrange such a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience. 

Coach Jones and Radio have their own official website here.

IN HIM,
Julie

This weekend was extraordinary.  Friday and Saturday were beautiful.  As a cold front moved in on Saturday evening the wind picked up a bit.  It was wonderful seeing the leaves pour down from the trees like rain.  So I took a few pictures on Saturday to show you the amount of leaves in our yard.  Our youngest son was outside hard at work cleaning up his dump truck while dad and his brothers watched college football by our campfire site.

Our daughter sleeps with everything we'll let her put in her bed.  About once a week when we're doing laundry I hide half of her toys from her because if I don't they all end up in her bed.  She has books, dolls, stuffed animals, blocks, balls, her play cellphone and anything else she can talk us into.

I thought I'd share a very MILD version of a packed crib.

Have a great Monday.
IN HIM,
julie

Need a place to sell your used curriculum

now that e-bay has a ban on teacher's editions? 

Then check out this N*E*W auction website 

HomeschoolBuy.com! 

What makes HomeschoolBuy.com so great?

It's Your Family Friendly

Internet Auction Alternative

Once you shop HomeschoolBuy.com you won't miss e-bay!

It's designed to sell just as well as e-bay

but much easier for the seller.

Listings are FREE!!

You pay nothing until your item has sold.

Tell your friends!  Tell your family!  Tell your readers!

Sometimes I just wonder why do we think we know so much?  Are we just stupid? (pardon the expression)

God's word so clearly expresses that He's the dad and we're the child.  How many times a day do we have to express that to our kids?  Yet still we don't get it.  Or at least I don't.  I wonder at times why God doesn't hit us all in the head with a Holy brick.  I marvel at my own stupidness.

People who do not know that Lord, at least they have an excuse.  But those of us who know him, who seek him?  What is my excuse?

As I was cramming for bible study tonight (meaning I haven't picked it up all week) I was struck by the end of chapter 23 in Exodus. 

God knows.  He really knows.  He has our best interests at heart ALWAYS.  Did you get that?  Not sometimes, most of the time or almost all the time but ALWAYS.

Look at the scripture.  God will go before us.  He may not do it like we think he'll do it because, goodness knows, that wouldn't be good for us.  So he heals us slowly, he brings that disobedient child of ours along slowly and carefully, he plants the seed of his desire within our hearts and then waits to fulfill it.  Why?  Because to do so any quicker would hurt us.  The wild animals would overtake us.  He RISES to show us compassion.  He longs to be gracious to us.  And BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WAIT ON HIM.

No one likes “the waiting place”.  It's a hard place to be.  God's often quiet.  Not much is happening.  Well, not that we can see.  But God is orchastrating all the events that need to come together at just the right moment for HIM to let us know, “Hey, I'm God!”

Am I just a nutcase sometimes or what?  It freaks me out why I don't just “get it!”  Why do I question his goodness?  Why do I choose to wait to obey?  How many times do I miss the blessing of first time obedience?  Oh, to hear his voice and just say, “Yes sir” and obey.

Excuse me but I just gotta go thank him for loving this pigheaded, sometimes prideful, yet ever-seeking Child of the KING!  I'm so thankful that He loves me so much that he longs for me.  Oh, Father, never let me go.

Whew!!

View my blog online at:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/juliestew

Isn't it wonderful to see the sun after the rain?  It always reminds me of God's purpose for pain, his hope during the storm and the way he truly makes all things new. 

After suffering from a nasty headcold the last couple of days I got a chance for some much needed rest today.  Afterwards I got to spend a little while outside alone with baby girl.  There are moments we cherish in the lives of our kids, moments when we just want to stop, breathe it all in deeply, and never forget what we're experiencing.

Here's a couple shots from one of those moments with my wonderful daughter today after the rain.