The View From My Front Porch

This afternoon I decided to waddle my pregnant self out to the porch and my waiting glider. It was wonderful taking in the 70 degree weather, sunshine, sights and smells!

Here are some of the things my eyes and ears took in. The view from my front porch...







and my own personal favorite; my view as I look down..baby belly and then feet..:)

Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.

Discerning the Voice of G-d...

Our ladies meeting through the home fellowship we attend has begun a new study called Discerning the Voice of G-d by Priscilla Shirer.

I am really excited about doing this study because I want to purpose in my heart to hear G-d's voice and to know for sure when He is speaking to me.

The biggest struggle I have in regards to this in when I am sure it was the L-rd leading me and speaking to me and others come against that causing confusion to blossom in my heart and mind. Sometimes I think it could be the way we all look at the L-rd; in different ways and what we expect from Him. What we think about the sort of L-rd He is. There are some things that we can't find a direct verse in scripture that will lead me or others into was that the L-rd? Nothing that speaks to saying it wasn't either; meaning it wasn't anything against His word. Which of course then I would know it wasn't from Him.
Sometimes things just aren't so black and white..
And in my heart I have confusion.

I also want to really hear Him. G-d has been speaking to His people since creation. I think we have forgotten how to listen. The things of this world and our lives crowd out His voice until we no longer can recognize it. But, scripture tells us that "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" John 10:27

I want to make sure I "know" the voice of my Elohim. I want to stand and having stood walk confidently in His way knowing that I have heard and have obeyed.

So I believe He is speaking to my heart even now telling me he has much for me in this study. I look forward to being taught of the L-rd!

*************************************************************

And now some pictures that prove spring is here! And with it new life in all its forms..:) Flowers that are popping up in my herb and flower bed...

Multitude Mondays; Gratitude

111. for His forgiveness; may I never forget what He has saved me from and the beauty He has given me..

112. that I am not stuck where I was..

113. that the Almighty G-d speaks to me!

114. That I have ears to listen..

115. that even when I feel alone I never am..He upholds me with His righteous right hand!

116. His endurance

117. His Spirit

118. Who I am and who I am becoming

119. no compromise

120. nail scarred hands

LivinginLilliput: This-N-That..

LivinginLilliput: This-N-That..

This-N-That..

Sunday evening the girls and I had some "girl time". We decided to paint our fingernails and toenails! We all look beautiful! :)








Even the baby had to get in on the fun!




Quentin finished his blanket and is now making potholders and covers for the arms of my couches. Here is his pot holder;



I love the colors he chose! :)
Micah is also working on pot holders for me and to give to others. Gabby is crocheting this and that too! Morgan is working on a blanket for baby ahava due in 38 days!! And me, well, I need to get busy working on my blanket which will be for the baby's carseat. I best get busy!! :)

Chores, Charts and Order........

Lynn asked in her comment on my last post about some examples of the chores and ages of my children..

I would be happy to share what I do in the hopes it might help another mama! :)

Our chore chart is written on a blank monthly calendar. The days of the week across the top with blank boxes for each day of the month/week.

On the left side I have written the chores and then for each day of the week a child is given a chore(s) that they are responsible for thruout the day. An example or two: Sweeping the kitchen is my son Josiah's (14 in April) chore on Sunday, Monday & Saturday. On Monday Josiah washes dishes and Zeke (13 in June) dries. On Tuesday Zeke washes and Gabby (11) dries. And so on thruout the week with different children doing what needs doing on different days.

My son Micah who is 8 in May dries dishes on Thursday, clears and cleans the table on Thursday, sweeps the stairs on Sunday and cleans the upstairs bathroom on Sunday.

My 9 yr. old son Quentin dries dishes, cleans bathrooms, vacuums and dusts etc.. on various days..

We also have a "Did You..." chart in the girls room and the boys room. This chart consists of 4 different things that they are to do before they leave their bedrooms each morning. Such as did they make their beds, pick up their bedroom floor, put away toys, hang up coats and put away any laundry? This applies to all of the children even down to my youngest dd who is 4 and makes her own bed along with doing as asked on the "Did You..." chart.

We also have a laundry chart and cooking chart.
The laundry chart outlines when the girl's laundry and boys laundry is to be done. My dd's Gabriellia (11) & Morgan-Britney (18) are in charge of getting the girl's laundry done; each having their own day. My son's Josiah(almost 14) & Zeke(almost 13) are in charge of getting the boys laundry done; each having their own day. Two days a week are for girl's laundry and two days a week are for boy's laundry. The rest of the days each week are for our cloth diapers, linens, and mama and daddy's clothes, etc..

The cooking chart outlines who cooks on what day. Such as Morgan-Britney cooks each meal; breakfast, lunch and supper on Mondays. Zeke cooks each meal; breakfast, lunch and supper on Tuesdays. Gabby and Quentin work together for each meal; breakfast, lunch and supper on Wednesday, and so forth... Sat & Sun are the days daddy cooks as he loves to cook! I cook on various days and supervise when needed, etc.. I also have times when I will cook the entire meal as time allows.

My children are up at 7am each morning. Daddy wakes them when he gets up and ready for work. They are required to have breakfast and chores finished by 8:30am so that they can begin schoolwork. Most days this means we can have our afternoons free as our schoolwork is finished by noon.

We do give allowance but in our home we have a different type of currency. :) Our currency is goodies...
Depending on the amount of times they have to be reminded to do something, how well they do it and if they do it at all is the deciding factor on how much goodies they get. Goodies like special fruit we don't get often, maybe some type of sweet something or other...crackers, etc.. They get to pick the goodies they get. Also if they meet the requirements mentioned above as to their chores they get to have a friend over, or something else really special at the end of each month.

I hope this is helpful to another mama..:) I know it certainly helps me to be organized and to train my children to stay on task and to work hard keeping our home in order.

I want to...

These last few weeks I haven't been feeling very gracious towards my children. I just feel like I have given all I can..

There were things with the children's behavior that caused these feelings and then of course being at the end of my pregnancy and all that comes with that added to it.

I don't want to feel this way so today I took action. I redid our chore chart changing chores and adding some of the younger ones. I then made up a laundry chart, cooking chart and "Did You"...chart for the cleaning of bedrooms. I also set new rules for morning routines. What's to be accomplished by what time, etc.. I set a new currency for chores done without being asked. All of these things were talked over with the children so they are aware of what's expected of them.

And the next thing I plan to do is R-E-L-A-X! I am hard on myself and want everything to be just so... I like order and to be organized having a perfectly clean home. I want children who say nothing but yes ma'am and then obey without question. My children are well behaved but they are not perfect. We are still in the process of training them. In reality all these things won't always happen exactly like I want them to. There will be times of setbacks and frustration. Times I am overwhelmed and tired.
I can relax; knowing that my children know what's expected and what will happen if it's not done and done well. Cause and effect...obedience and disobedience.

I want to learn to be uptight less and love them more! I want to spend time loving on them and cuddling; reading books and laughing. This is my greatest goal as their mama!
I want to learn to understand my olders and to learn to listen when they share. Growing up is such a hard time for the kiddos and for mama and daddy! I don't have all the answers but I am willing to learn..willing to let the L-rd guide me as I walk in His ways.

And I need more patience...lots of it! Patience to let them learn by messing up and the consequences that come because of their choices.

And most important I need to be in His Word as much as I can. Soaking up His wisdom! I will have another baby blessing soon. And life gets overwhelming but thru His strength and the endurance He gives I can be all He wants me to be.

(NKJV) Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart fail; [But] God [is] the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

(NKJV) Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

(NKJV) Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(NKJV) Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Deeper Water

I just finished Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow.

It's about a 2nd year law student at the University of Georgia who gets a summer job as a clerk at a prestigious law firm in Savannah, Georgia.

What's so unique about this story is this character was homeschooled until high school and comes from a Christian family. She is the first of 5 children and lives on a small farm in Powell Station, Georgia.
Later in the story we also meet another associate lawyer who was homeschooled all the way through.
Homeschooling is painted in a positive light and I was very impressed.

The main character is a also a very obedient young lady. She consults her parents on decisions and as a family they pray together before making choices.

While at the summer clerk job she is given a case that stretches and challenges her. Thruout this case she learns more about herself and how good G-d is. Even bringing the main person in her case to salvation.

I found this story to be enjoyable and interesting!