Summer Reading

This summer my son, David, was given a summer reading list from his school. We were so excited to receive the list and purchase the books! He took ALL of them on vacation with us for the month of June. He read as we traveled the South East of the US visiting our families and friends. He aslo kept a journal of the books that he read. At the top of the journal page he drew a picture of a scene from the book. At the bottom of the page he wrote a description of the book in a few sentences. It has been a true joy to see him complete this work. It was an adventure for our entire family. :)

One of the books he read, The Wind in the Willows, was particularly interesting. He read all of his other books on the list and then I handed him the Willows book. It was a daunting 300 plus pages. And remember, he is only seven years old.

he took the book and we encouraged him to read 10 pages in the morning and 10 pages at night before bed. He was on page 200 when Ryan my husband received his assignment for teaching a 7th grade online Literature class through Memoria Press. The list included The Wind in the Willows. We were a bit shocked and puzzled but David kept on reading.

When Ryan mentioned to the Headmistress that David had almost completed the book she was shocked! Ryan came home from work and asked David many questions about the book. I found a comprehension test online and gave it to David and he was able to answer every question correctly! He read a 7th grade book and comprehended it!

So thankful for his mind and ability! We love David and we have pushed him academically but we had no idea that he would be able to read this far in advance. Thankful that he took it and read it and did not complain. Thankful that we are able to help him along with all the things that he is learning and pursing! What a great time for us. And what a reminder that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and MIND, something I am afraid I can't say that I do well. So, I pray that I am diligent with my children to push them gently toward learning and loving the Lord with their MINDS.

Our House, Their Son, and His Job

Our house, their son and his job... what in the world could these three topics possibly have in common? I think that more than anything they are teaching us to trust the Lord for all that He has for us.

The home that we still own in Georgia has been rented and we just found out yesterday that the girls that are renting it will be moving out in February. We have used all of our cash to own and rent 2 houses.

They found out that the tests that were done on their son had less than desirable results. How in the world will they handle a son that has been this sick for this long and now a new diagnosis?

And his job, or lack of job that he is qualified for, has been a stress on their family for almost 2 years.

We have all been friends since the early days of college. We all have children and jobs and homes and parents. But I don't think that we ever thought that we would be dealing with these hardships. What will we do and how will we react? Will we trust the Lord for our daily bread? Will we trust him that while He may not heal our physical bodies in this world? Or if the healing causes us just as much hardship as it does the child? Will we trust Him in the decisions for his future?

Oh, Lord. We trust you. We pray that you will cause us to persevere until the end. We pray that you will provide our daily bread and that if you choose not to provide the way that we think is best then you are still providing for us. We pray for healing. We pray for provision for a job that is fulfilling and a calling that is sure. Oh, Lord, we trust you.

Verdict on the Dinner A'Fare

Sally, Repeat After Me

Tonight, as storms that began their raging in the plains finally made it to the east coast, I had 2 scared children.  

David and Sally were in their beds in the room that they share and nearing that sweet moment of drifting off when lightning and thunder began to rumble in Brunswick again.  Last night as they raged my children were sleeping and thankfully the storms did not wake them.  But tonight they were not asleep so the lightning shinning in their room equalled a scary moment for them.  

Ryan and I went to their room to talk with them and encourage them to trust the Lord.  We sang songs with them and then scripture that I have been teaching David this year in kindergarten began to come to my mind.  

I shared with them that when we are afraid we put our trust in God, Psalm 56:3.  And to pray that the Lord would keep them from all evil and that He would keep their life, Psalm 121:7.

They responded well to the truth of the scripture.  And for that I am very thankful.  They were calmed and quieted and resting.  

BUT then I realized that Sally left her night night in the living room and I went to take it to her.  I reached their bedroom door and I heard David saying to Sally, "The Lord." and she would repeat, "The Lord." until they had quoted Psalm 121:7  together.   David was leading his sister into godliness not tempting her to sin by continuing in his unbelief.

God is faithful and every word of God proves true and He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him, Proverbs 30:5

why do all of your shirts have a stain on them?

this is the question that i am often asked by my concerned husband.  often the question is asked at the wrong time, for example, like when we are about to leave for a date or for Sunday night church so most times it ends in a huffy trip back to the closet so that i can look and pray for a shirt without a stain.  will there be one in there?  that doesn't need to be ironed?  I am always hoping for the best! 

 This past week our family took a trip to see my husband's parents.  As we were leaving and packing our car, someone, not sure who, made Sally an ice cream cone.  It was just hot enough outside to melt it a good bit.  And she is just not fast enough to keep up with the melt to lick ratio! We were loading the car and I stepped inside to grab a wet towel so that I could clean her up reminding myself to be ever so careful NOT to let her touch me while covered with chocolate ice cream. 

I reached down to clean her hands and I thought that i was free and clear but when i stood up i realized there was a small chocolate handprint right on the front of my semi-new shirt.  (my husband says that all of my shirts are semi-new because of this very problem)

So today the shirt lies in the trash along with 2 others that i finally gave up because of stains and such.  my husband tried to coach me to keep it, to wear it under something else,  to wear it when i knew that i would paint or do something crafty but no i threw it away. 

 and tonight i drove to Target to buy another shirt knowing full well that this shirt would probably end up in the trash sooner or later.   realizing that this time is not a time for me merely to survive through... you know, when sally is a grown up my shirts wont be stained, when John is done with mashed sweet potatoes I will surely be free from stains, I am trusting that this is what the Lord has for me.  I am trusting Him that He will provide what I need and that it is okay to let go of a semi-new stained- beyond -washing shirt.  Trusting the Lord that this is what he had for me for this day and that I am in the time that He has for me and I will NOT always look forward to a better time to come.  So trust Him that this is the time that He has for you.

And, as always, thanks to Annie Laurie for spurring me on to write... and for teaching about new technologies every time we talk...  ALCW-  He is Risen!! He is Risen Indeed!!

GO! GO! Power Rangers

Not sure if you have heard the news or not but a new Power Ranger season debuted this week.  Jungle Fury Power Rangers are all the rage at our house but there is only one problem... we don't have cable. Kind of hard to see your most favorite show ever when there is no juice flowing from the cable outlet to the TV.  

We often can remedy this situation by watching shows on the internet at sites like abc.com and disney.com.  So David was excited to look on disney.com and find that Power Rangers would debut on the net.  He was so excited that he forgot to check the time and the date! He heard the commercial and thought that the first show wold air on Monday... well he did not pay attention to which Monday! It was Monday the 18th not Monday the 12th like he believed in his little heart.  He was very sad to have to wait until the next week but a trip to the grandparent's house made it easier.  When we returned Sunday he could hardly wait for the 18th.  

So on Monday he sat down at the computer and clicked on disney to find out that the show was NOT on their site! YIKES! another very sad time for him.

BUT that was okay UNTIL we went to our neighbors house to play and Tiffany, the mom exclaimed, "David! Guess what we watch last night!!!??? The new jungle fury Power Rangers!!! It was so awesome!!! "  And I could instantly see the tears in his eyes.  David began to cry knowing that he had missed out on the first episode.  Tiffany was heartbroken to find out she had hurt his feelings so she insisted that David come over on Wednesday to watch the show that they had graciously recorded on their dvr and all the boys could eat popcorn and watch the show.  Well, that was a great idea UNTIL her youngest son had to go the doctor unexpectedly and they did not come home until after 5 pm and David had to go to the assisted living home with his dad to minister to the residents there. Whoo! Not a fun time at the West home.  Many tears and much sadness. 

And then came the best part. Ryan and I were able to see that this was so upsetting to David.  That this was a great desire of his heart and that he wanted to see this new show so badly.  He had waited days for it to air and at this moment he is still waiting.  

Ryan really took care of him and did not get mad at him for being so upset with wanting to see a show about something so trivial.  But he shepherded him through the moment realizing that we often have great desires to see things come about in our lives.  David was in the right places at the right times waiting on the show to appear but it was not there.  He made all the effort for this to happen and it was not happening.  It was a great time to share with him that just because we want something so badly, the Lord may have other things for us.  Things that are better and that He is working out for our good.  Was it okay for David to be sad about missing Jungle Fury Power Rangers? Yes.  Was it so hard that he does not have cable?  Yes. And was it so difficult because he wanted this so badly and it was not coming about in his timing?  Yes.  

What we had to do was understand his pain yet not coddle him in this time.  We had to help him know that there will be many things that he will want and he will think they are the best thing for him in his life at that time.  Yet, the Lord and his timing will bring about good things for David at the time that He has appointed. We must teach him to trust the Lord in all things.  We must teach him that he can trust Him for all good things in His life in His timing. 

So, here we are on Thursday after the first 2 Mondays of thinking this show would air and he still hasn't seen it.  Maybe today will be the day or maybe we will have another lesson in trusting the Lord for his timing. 

sally is two!

what an interesting year it has been! didn't she just turn one last week!!! Last year at sally's second birthday I was 6 weeks prego with our third child.  i was beginning the feelings of morning sickness and trying to supress the need to vomit every time i stood up.   but we had the lady bug party anyway! :)  

this year was a much different year.  we were so excited to see our daughter turn two! she has been such a blessing.  there are so many times that she truly brightens up our lives.  she has a great disposition and lots of laughs to share.  

this year we had a monkey party!!! she went around telling everyone "I have a muuunkee party."  It was great! We had a fun time.  I found the pic of the cake on the internet and copied it.  I made a pound cake because they hold up so well with lots of icing.   i also made all of the icing from scratch.  it was so very good! :)  all of the recipes are from my pastor's wife, let me know if you need a copy!  we also had big fun tissue flowers... not sure why i made those but i thought they were really so cute.  and they were so colorful.  

ryan's parents and grandparents came over and we had a nice time with them.  Lots of BBQ was to be had for the men in the family.  It was enjoyable.

we got her a pottery barn anywhere chair with her name on it to match david's.  

enjoy the pics and guess what...

I am NOT prego this time around!