Rock Solid Family

“Ruth’s pancaking again,” Hannah told me this morning.

I turned from my Bible where I was doing my morning’s reading and asked her, “What’s pancaking?”

“Oh, I don’t know how to say it,” was her response.

She told me how she had told Joshua where Ruth was hiding during hide-and-seek and that now Ruth was Pancaking.

I asked her, “Oh, do you mean panicking?”

She was quite happy that I figured it out. I then taught her how to say “panic”. Then as we were eating lunch, I joked that the computer was “pancaking” since it was making so much noise. She quite clearly said, “No Mommy, It’s panicking!”

So my little girl is “Pancaking” no more. She is learning so quickly.

The girls earned five stickers for our Rewarded Reading program. For every five stickers they earn, they get a piece of bubble gum. After ten stickers, they get a candy bar. Then once they reach 30 stickers, they get a Pizza Party. Joshua has one more book to read to have his five stickers. The older two children have to read a chapter book and write a book report to earn a sticker. Hannah must have 5 books read to her and tell me about them to earn a sticker. They each have a chart on the wall where we write the names of the books and place the stickers.

As I’m writing this, my son came in the room wanting some medicine for an itchy round spot on his arm. He asked me if it could be ringworm since we have a new kitten. I thought I would look up a picture of ringworm for him. I opened another browser window and sure enough, what he has looks just like ringworm.

I looked up information about it and treatment information. I read that it can be contagious by touch. I asked the other children if any of them had any itchy spots like Joshua. Hannah had a mosquito bite that she really wanted to be ringworm. Ruth said she didn’t have an itchy spot but she had a bump on the back of her shoulder that bothered her. I looked and yep, she has ringworm too. Jonathan of course held his arm up for me to inspect. So far, the younger two don’t have it. I think it’s because they are afraid of the kitten. They won’t let it come near them.

Okay, it’s tempting to “pancake” but I think instead I’ll go to the store and by some anti-fungal cream for ringworm. I also need to wash their clothes, sheets, and towels. At least it’s treatable. We’ll just need to get rid of it before it spreads anymore. Better check on treatments for the kitten as well.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

I read a poem a while back, that was a discussion between a mother and God about her desire to be on a mission field. I really liked that poem because by the end of it, it showed that even though God doesn’t always send us off somewhere else. We all have a mission field.

My mission field is my family. While that may seem like a small thing compared to feeding and clothing the homeless, taking care of orphans, or reaching far off peoples that have never heard the gospel. It is a very important role that I must take on whereever the Lord has us to go or stay.

I realize that the Lord wants His people to go into all the world but maybe it’s not me that’s suppose to do the actual going. Maybe it will be my children, or my grandchildren. I can be only one place at one time. However, I have four children. If I raise them to love the Lord and to do his will then how many people could be reached through them. I could have at least 4 Missionaries whether at home or abroad someday.

I do not know what the Lord has in store for us in the future. We may never go into a foreign field. I do know that my mission is right here at home, with my husband, my children, my parents, my in-laws, my grandparents, my neighbors. How many more lives can I touch if I quit looking out and wondering when the Lord is going to use me and looking in at what the Lord has right here for me to do. I could reach the world right where I’m at. Whether at home or in another country.

The Lord could one day decide to send us on a foreign field, but the most important field I have is my family. If I keep this in mind, I will be able to keep my focus no matter where we go.

If you are struggling with where God wants you, maybe you should look at where you are at right now. Are you a Sunday School teacher? Your students are your “Mission” field.

Are you a parent? Your children are your mission field.

Are you married? Then your spouse is your mission field. You are to help your spouse be all that he (or she) can be for God. We all have struggles. Sometimes we can help our spouse reach his full potential by being a source of encouragement and help in whatever he needs to serve God.

Do you have neighbors? Then you are to reflect God’s light to them. If they see your life maybe they too will desire to serve him.

Whereever we are God has a mission for us. We need to pray and seek his will for our lives. God knows what is best for each one of us. We cannot decide what another person is suppose to do. But we are able to determine what it is God wants for our own personal lives.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard [him] ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
(Joh 4:35-42)

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them]. But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification. (Romans 15:1,2)

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) . . . Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1Timothy 3:2-5, 12)

Our family loves music. My kids each play instruments. We started them learning music a few years ago. I remember when I first gave them Ukulele lessons. At the time I thought it was a kid’s instrument.

I remember telling my husband that I wanted a cheap ukulele just to use to teach the kids. I figured, once they learned to play I wouldn’t be wanting to play it any more. I was wrong.

I loved playing that little ukulele more than the kids did. Their ukuleles were louder than mine. My husband, seeing that I really liked it, bought me another ukulele straight from Hawaii. I tell anyone that says they can’t play an instrument that they should try the ukulele. There are only four strings and you have four fingers. You don’t have to figure out what to do with the two extra strings you would have on a guitar. I remember when I first played it I had gotten a blister since I was new to the instrument.

The above picture was taken just about a week ago. That blister on my thumb is the result of not practicing. We went to a singing about a week ago at one of our local churches. It was a lot of fun, but I hadn’t practiced my ukulele in a while. My husband was going to play his guitar, my oldest son was going to play the bass guitar, my oldest daughter was going to play her mandolin, and my youngest daughter was going to play one chord on the piano.

My husband had worked with the kids on their parts. They were all set to go. It was an easy key and I did practice a little. Well, I practiced it that morning with them right before we went. It’s not hard to play the ukulele.

My husband said that it would sound really good if I could play a fast rhythm to compliment the rhythm Ruth would be playing on her mandolin. Not a problem. I’m pretty good at playing my ukulele fast. However without practice you don’t have a good callous on the finger you use the most.

After our special the kids and I returned to our seats. My husband stayed with the other instrumentalists at the front, that play along with all the songs. My thumb was bothering me. I looked down and saw that I had a blister.

I couldn’t play at all on Saturday. Then Sunday we were going to do a special for our fifth Sunday services. We were going to play the same song. I had to wear a Band-aid and still couldn’t play it fast. It hurt through the band aid.

God gives us callouses for a reason. Now that the blister is gone, I’m very thankful for that thicker layer of skin that followed it. I try to practice everyday now. That way when my husband asks me, “Can you play this with us?” I’ll be ready.

Bible Study is the same way. Without a daily walk with God and practice by studying our Bibles, would you be ready if someone asks you a question about God or His word. Will you have to say, “Um, you’ll have to talk to my pastor about that.” They may not go to your pastor. You may never even see them again. Will you have an answer for them?

What about the challenges that may come your way? Have you built up those Biblical callouses that will protect you from the enemy that wants to see you fall?

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
(Psalm 119:10-11)

Jonathan is constantly being reminded by his 4 year old sister that he is a sinner. “Jonasin!” she hollers everytime he takes her toys. Of course she hollers “Jonasin” when he isn’t doing anything also.

She calls her big brother “Joshwa”, her big sister “Woofy”, and her little brother “Jonasin”. All these nick names are the result of our picking names hard for a little girl to pronounce. When Ruth was little she had troubles calling herself “Woof” as well.

I’ve been trying to help Hannah pronounce the names correctly. After Hannah gets it straight I’m sure Jonathan will be next. Right now he calls Ruth “Foof”, Joshua “va” and Hannah “na”. Mispronouncing words may be cute when they are little, but I have to remind myself that it won’t be cute when they get older. I then continue to teach them.

(Proverbs 22:6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Friday, the kids and I went with another homeschool family to the Lufkin zoo. We had a lot of fun. The homeschool family we went with was one of the first homeschoolers we met where we presently live. The mother helped us meet the homeschool group here and helped us get involved with the Keepers of the Faith group that I have been taking the children to.

The first picture here is of Ruth and Hannah riding a lion at the zoo. The second picture is of Joshua and Jonathan sliding down the slide at the playground outside of the zoo.

The kids had a lot of fun. I did too. I’m hoping to be able to get more involved with the homeschool community during the next school year. The group will be breaking for the summer. My husband and I would like to get more involved on the boys side of the Keepers. The boys are called Contenders for the Faith. Both groups are a Christian alternative to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They have activities and Crafts and they are learning in all the activities they do to be all they can be for Christ.

Mother’s day is tomorrow. We have quite a bit planned for this afternoon to get ready for tomorrow. We will be passing out a gift to all the mothers present. I am also working on a nice Mother’s day bulletin. I am also needing to finish the skit that I’m writing for our Fifth Sunday Fellowship and Youth Sunday. So I have a busy afternoon before me. I am hoping to get all of this done and still get to bed at a decent hour.

I’ll try to post more tomorrow. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers that read my blog!

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her. (Proverbs 31:28)

Scott and Joshua had a wonderful time at the All the King’s Men retreat. Joshua made a new friend while there. There was another boy that was eight years old and he and Joshua hit it off well. Joshua even taught him how to play chess.

The rest of the children and I had a good time at our Keepers’ meeting. There were fun games for the kids. One of the games that the girls played with the other children were musical chairs with a twist. The difference was that one of the chairs was a bucket of ice. Just like with a normal game of musical chairs one chair would be taken out each time. The only difference was the bucket of ice remained. Ruth chose to be out rather than to sit in a bucket of ice, which was the only chair available. Hannah however had the funniest grin on her face when she sat in the bucket of ice. Thankfully she didn’t get too wet and she dried quickly. My camera ran out of batteries though, or I would have gotten a picture of it. I had tons of old batteries in my camera case but none of them had enough battery to even turn the camera on. So I’m sorry I didn’t get any pictures of the kids at the meeting.

I did take this picture today though. One of the things we did this past Friday was to borrow my Dad’s truck and trailer. We have some wood that we are planning to load up and haul it off back to Henderson. We are planning to possibly build a storage shed on my Dad’s property with it.

We’ve been doing a little spring cleaning. I realize that it is just about Summer but I guess I procrastinated a little bit. We have too much stuff or at least not enough space. Both can go hand in hand. So we have been trying to go through some of our things and figure out what we don’t need, what we need to store, and what would be good to keep. I have already made one list of things to pick back up that we have already put into storage. It’s funny what you miss, when you realize it’s not around.

Today, I have a soar throat. I think I’ve been a little behind on my sleep. Scott complained of his throat feeling poorly on Sunday and Monday. But today his throat seems to be doing better. So I’m hoping that mine will feel better after a couple of days as well. I’m going to try to get to bed at a good time tonight. I say this and it is already 11 p.m. 🙂

I think I will end this blog with a devotional I gave to my family the other night. We each take turns giving devotionals. It was taken from Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:1. Sometimes a chapter breaks in the middle of a thought. Here is the passage:

Ecc 11:9-10
(9) Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.
(10) Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.
Ecc 12:1
(1) Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

You see the preacher of Ecclesiastes telling young people what most of them want to hear, follow your heart, do what feels right, what looks right to you. What kind of a preacher is this? But then he hits them with “But know thou that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” So have fun but remember that judgment is coming. Then he tells them what they should do “remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.” Then he tells them “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” When you look back on your life will you see your life filled with doing God’s will, or will you regret your past and wish you had done more while you were young? It’s not to late to change. No matter your past you can start making a difference right now… the younger the better.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a week since my last post. It’s also been a week since my husband took our daughters to a Father Daughter social that was held for the Fathers and Daughters of our homeschool group. There actually were some mothers there to help serve food and what not but I decided to stay home with the boys and let the girls have some good quality time with their Dad.

The first picture my husband took of the girls posed on a bale of hay. The daughters were to dress up if they wanted to in old time clothes or even princess dresses. Ruth had a play dress her cousin had given her that looked real nice and old timey. So I told her she could wear it to the social. I ironed all the wrinkles out of it and then I fixed her hair up on top of her head with lacey material on top of the bun. Hannah wanted to wear her new Easter dress and she wanted her hair fixed up just like Ruth’s. I was glad she had enough hair to put it up. Since I’ve cut her bangs, she has less hair to style. It turned out real nice and they both looked really cute.

This second picture is of Hannah riding on a wooden horse with wheels. Her daddy was pulling her around the room on the horse and he had to stop and take a picture of her having fun.

Joshua, Jonathan, and I had a nice quiet time at home. I was going to let Joshua play games or watch a movie. Whatever he wanted to do. Now what would you imagine a 10 year old boy would normally want to do? Video games? A boy movie? Nope he wanted to watch the cartoon Madeline. His sisters had watched it a few weeks ago, when he and his father went with my father on a hiking trip. I guess the girls talked about the cartoon so much that he’s been wanting to see it too. He watched every Madeline movie we have while the girls were gone. After he watched the last one, he was about to ask me if he could watch School House Rock. Then I asked him if he would rather play a video game for a little while. He got all excited like the thought never occurred to him that he could play video games. It was really funny. So for the last few minutes before Scott and the girls got home he played Game Hunter. He even shot a deer. He also got to drive on a four wheeler, which he says is easier in real life.

So that was last weekend. This weekend, we drove to Henderson to pick up my father’s truck and trailer so that we can haul some wood off. I left Scott and Joshua with my father’s truck and they are attending an All the King’s Men retreat at the camp there. I’m sure they are having a lot of fun. I wanted to send the camera with them but I will be using the camera tomorrow to take pictures of our last Keepers of the Faith meeting that me and the girls and Jonathan will be going to tomorrow. So check back soon, hopefully it won’t be a week before I post those pictures. 🙂

“Is it tomorrow?” Hannah likes to ask. She usually asks this when I tell her of something we are going to do tomorrow. She will ask me that day, “Is it tomorrow?” Then she will ask me the next day, “Is it tomorrow?”

I usually respond, “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow.” She just hasn’t figured out that tomorrow is always tomorrow.

One of my favorite songs says, “I don’t know about tomorrow.” Even though I don’t know what will happen in the next few tomorrows, I’m not worried about it. I am actually looking forward to tomorrow with anticipation, knowing that God is ultimately in control. He has helped us time and time again with all our yesterdays. I’m not worried about tomorrow.

How can I go through life with a smile on my face knowing that something bad could happen tomorrow? God is with me and my family. If I just look around He reveals himself in such wonderful ways. It seems like when we are going through the hardest times that He is really just a breath away.

I know that some people may think I’m crazy. But unless you know my Lord like I know Him, you’ll never understand. What you don’t realize is He is only a breath away for you too. All you have to do to draw close to Him is breathe a prayer asking Him to reveal Himself to you. He is right there if your heart is ready.

Mat 6:31-34
(31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
(33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.