Raising up God's Children

What I love to do

2011-10-05T09:50:00.000-04:00

These are the items that I made for last months Close To My Heart workshop that I hold here at my home. I really enjoy creating them and teaching others how to do them. It is the one thing that I get to do to relax and enjoy myself. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

Home schooling

2011-09-14T10:56:00.000-04:00

Well the year is planned out and I am mentally ready. I think. Having a child that learns differently and takes a little bit longer to grasp things can be truly trying. It gets frustrating when you have explained the same thing what seems to be a million times. But I have to say when I seek God he shows me how to get said child to understand. It still may take a while but said child gets it. I know it is just as frustrating for the child as it is for me. There are times where I feel like I have been in battle and I am totally exhausted. But I am so grateful that I am able to teach my children at home. I am able to move at the pace that they are at and able to go over the same thing until the child gets it even if that means a month of doing the same thing over and over again. One of my goals is to spend more time pouring into myself that I might be able to pour into them. There are weeks at a time that I don't leave the house but only to go to church. That can't be good. Anyway. I am so excited to see where school takes us this year!

New Blog

2011-09-10T10:02:00.001-04:00

Good morning everyone! I wanted to humbly ask you all to stop over and check out my new blog. I am now a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. What is that you ask? Well, I am so glad that you asked! It's SCRAPBOOKING! I just love scrapbooking and I love their products! So please hop on over and follow me on my blog, FB, follow by email, Networkedblogs. Please follow one follow all! Thank you guys for supporting me in this new adventure! If you would like to hold a workshop or Host a party please let me know!

www.christinawyattscrappersheart.blogspot.com

Update

2011-08-30T11:42:00.000-04:00

I don't have a great post so I am going to do a bullet point of events

I have one child in the public school system and I am finding myself bound by that schedule and it's hard to adjust to.
Taekwondo three nights a week
cheerleading one night a week
praise practice one night a week
church 2 days a week
many Doctor's appointments
Close to my Heart workshops-which I love and really enjoy
getting things ready to start school

Those are just the things that I can think of off the top of my head. Life is a little busy right now but that's okay. The only problem is, that I don't take the time for myself. Not sure how to work that out. But praise God I have all the blessings that I have!

Hair pretties!

2011-08-27T12:40:00.000-04:00

If you have a little girl you have to hop on over and see my friends creations! She has some really cute things. http://www.shadesofusbows.com/index.php?route=common/home I am all about supporting my friends in their businesses! So please check it out and get some of your Christmas shopping started early!

Adopting!

2011-08-26T08:41:00.001-04:00

We are adopting again! So excited to have this little guy to become a permanent part of our family! He has been with us a little over a year now and it seems as though he has always been with us. He is so full of joy and his laugh is contagious! He has the bluest eyes ever and they seem to dance when he smiles. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. I can't post pictures yet. Sorry. We are often asked how many children are you going to have. Quickly followed by don't you think you have enough already. My answer to this is this, we will have as many as God sees fit to give us. As long as the Lord gives we will continue to receive. How would I ever begin to choose which one of my children I would keep and which one I would turn away. Jesus never turned me away and I am not about to turn away a child that He has asked me to love and raise for His Kingdom. Sometimes walking out the path that God has set before me feels lonely but I find that those are the times that I am letting the world speak to my heart and not listening to the voice of God. Children are a beautiful gift from God there are so many places in His word that He tells us so. So once again I am humbled by God's awesome gift of a son! Thank you God for little C!

Beautiful!

2011-08-25T16:50:00.000-04:00

Since it has been a while since I have blogged I wanted to take a moment to direct to my friend Lisa's website http://www.keeferstylecreations.com/ you can find her here too http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassy2225?ref=em she has the most beautiful jewelry that she personalizes for you. God has given a gift and a talent, well not just one she has many! But this is the one that I would like to highlight today. She is doing wonderful things for God's Kingdom and she makes her "moment in time" capturing jewelry to do the wonderful things she does. She is just about the sweetest person you would ever want to meet and she loves the Lord with all her heart with a passion for those who are in need. So please hop right over and take a look I KNOW you will be blessed! This is one of my favorites!

Hi!

2011-08-25T09:35:00.000-04:00

It has been such a long time since I last posted! I have missed you all! Well, school is close to starting for us and I am excited to begin the new year with a new battle plan! There was great success last year but I am believing for greater growth in all the children this year. Summer has come and gone. I would like to tell you that we took this amazing trip and did amazing things but sadly we did not. We have had a lot of birthday's to celebrate and that is always fun! Church is going very well and it growing! I am here to tell ya, that if you live in the area you won't want to miss what's going on at True Life Church! We have a two new exciting adventures that we have begun! More to come on those soon. We have grown by a few pets and a few children too! Wow how God blesses us! The children are taking Taekwondo at True Life Church and they are really enjoying that. Rheanna is cheerleading with Upwards at our church True Life Church it has just started but I know that she is going to really enjoy it. Saintania and Eveline have become more involved in ministry and are doing a great job. At this point all our children that are old enough to serve in ministry do so. Rheanna who is not old enough serves with us when we clean the church. What a blessing it is to have children that serve in the ministry for God! More updates to come so keep checking back!

Jesus Wept

2011-03-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

How often do you hear that scripture? What does your mind think caused Him to weep? The loss of Lazarus? The Bible says in John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in the spirit and troubled. As I read this my heart was moved like never before. Even though Jesus knew that he was going to bring Lazarus back to life He was moved by their pain. More than that I think He was mad at the enemy for the destruction he had caused. For the pain and doubt he caused in His loved ones. I want the things that deeply moved Jesus to move me. What God loves I want to love. What He hates I want to hate. Lord show me where I can be used to apply your healing balm to hurting hearts. Move me Lord!

I dream of.....

2011-02-24T08:35:00.001-05:00

the lazy days of summer when I was a child. When the world stopped, time stood still and I was care free. As an adult I tend to get so caught up in the day to day things that need to be done and the there are times that I tend to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. But I believe that God does not want that for us. I believe He wants us to have that wonder and excitement that we had when we were kids. Everything was an adventure and it was exciting! When I turn over my cares to Him as he asks us to I can have that excitement and sense of adventure. Somewhere between being a child and becoming an adult we think we gain vision but sometimes I think we lost some vision. We see things in a way that God never intended us to see them. Maybe it was the fall of man that changed our vision I don't know. But thing I do know is that I want to see all things with child like faith. Minute by minute I want to turn my cares over to Him and be as carefree as a child. To enjoy life to the fullest! I want to enjoy all the blessings (Dakotah, Tristen, Zach, Alisha, Rheanna, Saintania, Eveline, Cornelia, Abel, Caleb and Bill) he has given me. Of coarse he blesses me in other ways but my family is the greatest blessing He can give me this side of heaven and I want to enjoy them just as much as I enjoyed the amazing summer days of my childhood.

The statement I hear the most..

2011-02-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

is " I don't know how you do it all." My response "I don't do it all." We are a family and we work together as one body. If one of the body parts doesn't do it's job then it hinders the rest of us. That's how God created the body of Christ to function as one body. So that is how we function as a family too. Of coarse it hasn't happened overnight. It took and does take work and training. Our family only functions as well as I teach them and as well as we are all willing. It also takes prayer. I seek guidance on how and what to do to teach them and how to help them gain understanding as well as for myself. When you have a large family things work differently. Also when you have adopted, you have to sometimes think out side of the box on how to reach in, through all of the pain and adjusting to new things, and touch their heart. It takes a great deal of creativity when you have a big family and things are always changing. That's what makes it so exciting. But the one constant and center must be Christ.

How do you plan?

2011-02-22T07:54:00.000-05:00

Homeschoolers how do you plan your year? From deciding what books to buy to mapping out your year or not mapping out your year. What are the deciding factors in what you will do the up coming year? I would love to hear from you! Sound off ladies and gentlemen!

Change

2011-02-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

   There has been a lot of things that God and I have been talking about. I haven't posted much here because well, I didn't feel like I had much to say that anyone would be interested in. But I must say I miss it! So what I have been up to lately is order. I have really worked on ordering my day and teaching my children to order their day as well. At first it was difficult but I am beginning to see the fruit from it. Now I am not saying that my days were never ordered and they were mass chaos but they are more fine tuned now and God and I are not finished yet. There is so much more peace now.
   School is going well. Everyone is progressing and eager to do school which is a blessing. I do have one though that struggles way more than the rest. This child knows how to do the work but when switching gears from doing one kind of math problem to another kind of math problem that is where the trouble comes in. Said child has to be told it's this way and then they can work the problem out. Does that make sense?
    Also on the home front I have two children that desperately need to be potty trained and neither seems to have an interest. One is okay if they are taken and really doesn't seem to mind it but the other goes kicking and screaming so I have totally backed off. Only one of my other children were this old before they were potty trained and there was a lot going on in our home at the time. Not sure why these two are not ready yet. I sure would be a financial relief to not have three in diapers anymore that is for sure.
   Personally I am looking forward to spring. I am ready to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, cook outs and summer fun. I am ready for a new season in so many ways in my life. I am ready for the finality of the girls paper work to be finished and done with. I am tired of having this hanging over my head like a dark cloud looming. This process for us started six years ago and I am ready for it to be finished. They know also that there is more to do before it is finally over and I have to think that is looms over them as well. We are going to readopt them just because getting an original birth certificate for them will never be possible for them. What if some day they too wish to adopt? But I know that God's timing is perfect and these trials and tribulations causes a great work and change in us and I wouldn't change any of them. It's good to be back!

Christina

Reading

2011-01-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

I have never had a child so hard to teach how to read. I would like to believe that it is because English is the second language but I am not sure that it is. I am unsure of how to move forward from where we are at right now. Can thinking be taught? I mean like with a curriculum? I think I am going to check into that. It makes me want to pull my hair out reading with this child and it's no good for either of us. I need to find a way to work through this.

R has just finished reading Island of the Blue Dolphin, she really enjoyed the book. Along with this book she completed a lapbook to go along with it. I can't seem to pinpoint the reading level of this book. I have found so many different levels for it ranging from 4th grade to 8th grade. Considering she is in 4th grade she is right on target or really advanced in her reading. Either way it is a win so I am going to leave it at that.

The twins as we like to refer to them as, love reading books too. They will sit for hours and with tons of books reading themselves or better yet being read to. I love that they love books. Through the many years of having foster children, I have learned that the love of books is a precious gift to be given. I have had so many foster children that had no idea what to do with books but by the time they left our home they had a love of books. I have such a hard time resisting buying books. We have our own mini library in our home and I love it!

Christina

Preparing

2011-01-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

I have begun to prepare for the next school year. Taking a look at what I have and what I need to get. I have just about got all the Math U See that I need. It is hard with two of my girls, one is really moving forward and grasps things easily and the other one has a harder time processing things which makes it more difficult on both of us. But I am determined to pray and believe that we will find a way to conquer this and be over comers together. It is exciting to see all of them progress. I must say that when they get into high school the price of their books goes way up! I think I have ran out of things that keep my preschoolers attention though. Things they can do pretty much on their own because I have the bigger kids doing school at the same time. Suggestions would be great!

Adopting Haiti

2011-01-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

Today is the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. Most days it feels like a distant memory. As I watched this video again the tears flowed down my face as I relived the events surrounding that day. No I was not in the earthquake in Haiti but it sure rocked my world like I was right there. Though my world felt like it was rocked hard there was a solid rock beneath my feet. That rock was and is Christ Jesus. Adopting itself opens you to a whole new world of questions about raising children, but adopting older children from a third world country and a homecoming through a tragic natural disaster brings a whole realm of questions and situations not experienced by many adoptive parents. If it were not for God I know that I could not have done, this past year, what my children have needed. So on this one year anniversary I want to thank God for all that He has done for all of us! I want to thank Him for the awesome testimony that I carry of His goodness and His love for me and my family!

It's been a while...

2010-12-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

     I would like to say that I have been gone because my life is filled with adventure and I have been way to busy to post but that is not the case. I have been home schooling my little heart out and pouring into my children. Now, don't get me wrong schooling my children can be an adventure all on its own. Everyday that I sit down at the table to school my children I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am to be able to do so. I enjoy it so much. There are times that I get totally frustrated and I am sure that they do to and well that's okay. But to watch them grow and learn is a priceless gift.
     Right now I am working on a literature study for Rheanna to do a lapbook. Some how we can to own a book called, I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, I have searched the Internet over for a study of this book and I have found absolutely nothing. So I am making one. In doing so I am having to read this book and so far it is a very good and I am hooked. Yes, I am hooked on a 5th grade book. But I look at it as a chance to share something with my daughter. I love doing lapooks with her. It's our thing that we do together.
     A question that I am asked often is "How are the girls doing?" I have to say that they are adjusting well. One we deal with heart issues way more than the other. Sometimes I wonder if it is a communication issues but really I feel it is a heart issue at the bottom of it because even though they will admit that they did whatever the issue is at hand they always try to turn it into a word war. They get caught up in the smallest details of a single word. I have tried very hard not to let them deflect the issue at hand and allow one word said or lack of one word said the main issue. There is no doubt in my mind that they have to understand what is expected and where they went wrong. they admit to it every time. It is very frustrating to me and those are the times I have to step back and remember where it is that we started at. Thank God he is there to show me the way because without him I would be totally at a loss.

Preschool craft

2010-11-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

I am not sure how many of you enjoyed the preschool crafts that I was posting every day but the batteries died in my camera and I have yet to pick some up. So if you have enjoyed the posting of crafts for the preschoolers please let me know and I will make an effort to pick up some batteries.

Haiti and my girls

2010-11-05T12:03:00.000-04:00

I have such mixed feelings about what is going on in Haiti right now. So thankful that my girls are home and yet at the same time so heart broken that their family and the people of Haiti are still suffering. For much of the world the Earthquake hit 10 months ago and it is but a distant memory but for the people of Haiti they are still living it and breathing it. I have chosen to keep our girls sheltered from what is going on in Haiti right now. I am at peace that this is the right thing for them right now. My heart is breaking and I feel so helpless and so small. I feel so unable to make a difference for the people of Haiti. I want to help the girls birth family and I have no idea how to do that or what that looks like. So I do the best and only thing that I can and that is to turn it over to God an trust that He, in all of wisdom and love, will take care of all the people of Haiti who call upon him and those who stand in the gap for Haiti. This is where I must lay it and this is where I must leave it.

Holidays

2010-11-04T09:58:00.000-04:00

I must admit that I am slacking on making my Christmas gifts. I need to get in gear and make sure that I have them all done. Dakotah and I went last night to find a Christmas puzzle or a winter scene so that we as a family could put it together on a table in the office however puzzles must not be very popular. We went to 6 stores and only found 3 puzzles that met our requirements, two of them we found at the very last store. The one puzzle was so very small that we all would have been blind by the time we were finished putting it together. As the holidays are approaching there are many things that are floating in my thoughts. I am not sure how to sort them all out. Thoughts of family and love, traditions and my children, what I am teaching them about and through each holiday, what each holiday means to them and what they are taking with them. I want them to know some very specific things and I am searching and asking God how to put it all together outside of my mind. First and foremost I want my family to walk in love. Love that heals and comforts a love that sees beyond the hurt and pain of others, a love that see past someones outward appearance, past someones status, past all natural things and gives of themselves all the while not counting the cost. I wonder so they see this in me? Do they see me walk this out every day of my life? Am I living a life with the love of Christ Jesus? I am afraid that every single day I fall short but praise God I have a Father in Heaven who is faithful to forgive and will never forsake me. Thank God that my Father will never allow me to stay the same. I am thankful that He is gentle and patient. I would love to hear your hearts, so if you are comfortable to share, I would love to hear it :)

Thrift store

2010-11-03T11:31:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't love the thrift store!?! I didn't go as a kid but my kids love to go, I love to go. They realize that they can get way more clothes for way less money and the thing is they are totally happy about that. They get brand name clothes too. I call that being wise. But what blessed me the most today is that one of my children had birthday money and they used it to not only buy themselves something but their siblings too. Sometimes it is hard to see the wonderful things about your children if you stay home with them all the time, but I am so very grateful that God reveals their beauty to me for sometimes I don't take the time to see it because I don't slow down enough to see it.

Oh I neglected to say that today is half off day! Love it even more!

Thanksgiving Lapbook, today's preschool craft and a New Family Tradition

2010-11-02T10:56:00.001-04:00

So I was having a hard time finding a free Thanksgiving lapbook. I found one I really liked for twenty dollars but don't have that to spend nor if I did have it, did not want to spend that kind of money. So I took the book that I have and printed off some sheets and my husband and I sat down last night and put one together. With that being said, I have never put together a lapook on my own and my husband didn't even know what a lapbook was. I am hoping that it works out okay and when they are finished I will post picutres. Something else we are doing is a Thanksgiving box. I cut litle strips of paper and placed them in a box and each evening at dinner we will all take a strip of paper and write what we are thankful for with our name and date and then place it back in the box, then on Thanksgiving day we will read all the strips of paper. I am trying to come up with a way to save all strips and make a book or something to pass down through the generations.

Today's preschool craft

Lapbooking

2010-11-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

While the children were working on their school, I was looking for some lapbooks to do with Rheanna. She loves doing them and as long as we are doing literature unit studies we should enjoy them with lapbooks. I think I am going to pray and seek God's wisdom on doing them with the girls. I think that it would have to improve their reading comprehension. So as we complete them I will post pictures of them. Would love to hear from you all about your best lapbooking site.

Friday's

2010-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

Friday is the day that I prepare their school work for the following week and do tests. I look at the week and decide from there if I need to adjust anything for them, make copies and prepare their spelling lists and things like that. It is free day today for the little ones they will watch a movie. This morning the little ones started to crawl up in their chairs to do their school and was a little disappointed that I was not doing school with them today. All in all it was a very good week and I am pleased with all the we accomplished. So for November we are going to be learning and doing Thanksgiving things! I am so excited! Have a great weekend!

Fun with School

2010-10-28T11:38:00.000-04:00

So one of the fun math games that we play here whether you are learning to multiply, add or subtract is well- I really don't have a name for it so we will just call it dice math. So at the dollar store years ago I bought these very large dice, we roll them and then multiply what ever two numbers come up or add or subtract. They don't see it as math but just a fun game to play with mom or even by themselves. To do the higher numbers we use three die and add two together and multiply it by the third one. Does that make sense? I hope so.

For my ESL child I am using word slides (which you can find here) and spelling tiles. I find that if I address all of the senses she learns better. So the slides are guides for her and then I make her use the tiles to make tactile slides. With that are these dry erase cards that I picked up at the Dollar Store years ago. I punched holes in the corner and put them on a key ring.

Front

Back

I am also going to try the tiles with the spelling words. As I say them she will build them with the tiles. We will see. She was doing so well and then she graduated from one book to the next and now it is not good.

Today's preschooler craft is similar to yesterday's as it is another fall tree however they are painted fall tree's. I have dotters or whatever they are called, like what they use for bingo, (no I have never played Bingo) and I thought it would be great fun for them to pound out their creation's today. I am trying to use what I have here at the house in creative ways. I hope you enjoy them:)

What are some creative things that you do with your children? I would love to hear them:)

Refining and todays prechool craft

2010-10-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

Every week I find that I am enjoying life more and more. The more God fine tunes my days with schedule and routine the more at peace I feel. I also find that every day He shows me something else that I need to add or do. I really want to take care of what God has given me and do it in such a way that it pleases Him and brings glory to his name. So I guess I am saying that he is refining me and it has been a sweet time.

I am very proud of Eveline she has decided that she wants to catch up in her school work and be at the level she should be so she has decided to do a lesson of math a day. This works as long as she is getting it, however I have told her that if she gets to a place that she needs to take her time to learn it, that is okay. Once she gets it she can go back to a lesson a day. So far she has picked up things rather quickly. She has inspired her siblings to work harder as well. She is the first one to get her chores done and she is the one to encourage others to get theirs done. She sees a need and she meets it. She is so much help to me. She blesses me every day. I need to be better at telling her that.

Well I have added play dough and wooden blocks to the activity list for my preschoolers. They sat this morning for an hour playing with the wooden blocks even the one year old. I want to try my hand at making play dough and salt dough so the little ones can make Christmas gifts this year. Today's craft for them is construction paper art, a fall tree which requires them to tear paper and use scissors. Someone was here yesterday during our morning school time and she was amazed at how the little ones just sit still and work on their activities. I have to say that it blessed me so.

How things are going

2010-10-26T11:19:00.002-04:00

Schooling with the little ones is going great but school has really consumed my day. I school with the littlest ones from 9-11:30 which with a two and three year old you would think it would be difficult however so far it seems to be going great. What I have gathered so far to keep them busy is books, puzzles, coloring, one craft a day, stringing beads which they call making necklaces, cutting paper, lacing, painting, and file folder games. Now we don't do all of these everyday and I don't have a set order to do them in. I find that if I mix it up it keeps their interest. We do this at the kitchen table right along with the older kids so I am in the same place where everyone can have my attention. So currently I am schooling 7 children all at different levels. I am continuing to time the older ones on each subject that seems to keep us all focused and on task. If someone happens to finish a subject early then they can work on another one and or do a load of laundry. There is a morning time of cleaning up after breakfast and then off for prayer and them school starts. At 11:30 the little ones are off for a half an hour free play while I prepare lunch and we have until 12:30 to eat and clean up from the morning and eating. Bible study is 12:30 to 1 so 1-2 we are finishing up the older ones school while the little ones are napping.

Today's craft for the preschoolers it sort of two fold. They did leaf rubbings and then took those same leaves and made a collage.

Cornelia's leaf collage

Abel's leaf collage

Abel's leaf rubbing

Cornelia's leaf rubbing

Happy Birthday!

2010-10-25T13:43:00.000-04:00

Dakotah 18!

Eveline 13!

I'm truly blessed to be the mom of these amazing people! They bless me in so many ways every single day! They bring me joy and laughter every day. I couldn't think of any other two people I would want to share my life with! Happy Birthday to you both and I pray that you know how much I truly love you and cherish you both.

Pumpkin making with preschoolers

2010-10-25T11:59:00.001-04:00

So today with my preschoolers we made paper bag pumpkins. They turned out so cute! They were thrilled to work on them and one cried when it was finished. Tomorrow I think we are going to make a leaf collage.

Cornelia's pumpkin

Abel's pumpkin

It is really simple. Supplies are lunch sized paper bag, paper crumbled up to put inside like newspaper or I used printer paper that had already been used and I recycle, rubber band and orange paint. I think the rest is self explanatory.

Quality time

2010-10-23T20:18:00.000-04:00

Cornelia settled in to watch Charlie Brown Christmas. We got her pj's on and I told her to go and put her clothes in the hamper and her cup in the sink and then we would watch Charlie Brown Christmas, she returns crawls up on the couch and says "let's do this game". I love her so much! She makes me laugh:)

My husband

2010-10-22T18:18:00.001-04:00

These are the kitchen windows. The one on the side of the house is the one that is open. The one on the back is the one that I need a window for.

Dining room window that was boarded up.

Living room window that still needs opened up.

So today my husband got up and started working on a few projects that have needed to be finished. We had built a table from a door that we got at habitat for humanity and it was a bit unstable so he braced it. Then he went to fix the frame of our bed that our son broke when he flopped down on it. Now he is working on our windows. When we moved into our home both the windows in the kitchen were boarded up on the outside and covered with paneling on the inside. Which meant there were no windows in the kitchen, which I did NOT like at all. Then there was one in the dining room and there is one in the living room that were boarded up. When we first moved in he took the board off of the one window in the kitchen but there was no window. So my husband said they are probably all missing. Well a few weeks ago I had our son take off the bottom board to see if there were windows in all the other places and guess what! There was! I was thrilled beyond measure! So I told him the best anniversary gift he could give me was to get those windows opened up. Well he got two of them open and he it fixing the edges of the inside of the windows. I am hoping that he gets the window in the living room opened up also. For the missing one in the kitchen, I am hoping and praying that God brings me a window that fits in there so I will have two windows in the kitchen. I now have two windows in the dining room and when he opens up the other window in the living room I will have two in there also. I am so thankful that he is handy that way! I am also thankful that he cares about the things I care about:)

Dress up

2010-10-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

My friend recently blessed us with some clothes and in the bags were these two dresses. Cornelia immediately wanted to put it on as she squealed I am a princess and this is my princess dress. We had a very hard time getting it off her. Rheanna on the other hand it was more of I am eloquent in my grown up ballroom gown. I love that even though she is ten she still loves to play and dream.

Homeschooling my preschoolers

2010-10-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

File folder games in my fancy file box.

Stack of puzzles

So this morning I threw together some items that I thought that my two and three year old could do. Things like puzzles, scissors for cutting paper, a craft, stringing beads, sorting bears by color, a coloring page, a bunch of file folder games and water color paints. They had a blast! They enjoyed every minute of it as they sat at the table with their older siblings with they did their school, add a half an hour for free play and that brings us up to lunch time! It was a little hectic because there was a lot of hands on for me but we got it all accomplished. When some of the older kids were free they helped the little ones so that I could correct papers or help someone with a problem they were having. All in all I say it was a success!

Princess

2010-10-19T08:09:00.000-04:00

This is my little princess. She has really started to become serious in her doll playing. It is so cute to watch her nurture her little baby and that is when it hits me all over again that how I respond to her is teaching her how to respond to others. She is so full of joy and life. She is a pretty amazing little girl and a blessing straight from heaven!

Please vote in my poll!

2010-10-15T15:39:00.001-04:00

Okay here's the deal. I want my home to look inviting and cozy on the outside too. I can't change the color of the brink but I can the front door. So I was wanting you all to vote on which color you think would look the best!

Shrug

2010-10-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Well here is Christmas gift number one that I am working on for Eveline. It looks pink on my computer but it is red. She looks good in red. Once it is done I will have her model it and get a picture. I know, I know she will know but I am telling her I need a picture of it so I can put it on-line so someone will buy one which is true. I am so excited to see how she looks in it.

Memories

2010-10-14T10:28:00.000-04:00

On Sunday afternoons I try and take the kids to do something. My oldest son goes by this cemetery often and he has gone in and found some beautiful stones of those who have passed away and monuments dedicated to those who gave their lives in various wars and for firefighters. He had told me that he would really like to take me and show me so I decided one Sunday afternoon to load up the kids and go. This was my favorite picture. I snapped this picture and then he knelt down to clear the grass from this babies headstone who died in the late 1800's as I went to snap the picture of him knelt down there the camera died. The image of him knelt down there tenderly caring for a memory of a life he had never known will forever be etched in my mind, never to be forgotten. The way he plucked the grass away and gently and lovingly brushed the dirt away filled my heart with an overwhelming sense of pride for my son. He looked at every headstone in such a way as to say I see you and even though I never knew you I see you with my love because my Father in heaven created you. Typing this I am brought to tears by those moments I watched my son. I know and he knows that those people are are there but all the same he honored their life with such tenderness and love that I will never forget that day.

My little big man!

2010-10-13T19:43:00.000-04:00

I just love this picture of my little man! He has a thing for anything that has a motor in it. He was just happy to be sitting on the quad. but boy did he love riding it. He is all boy that is for sure! He makes me smile!

Christmas

2010-10-12T09:24:00.002-04:00

We are going to begin working on Christmas presents around here! I am so very excited to see what the kids come up with. I have given them some ideas to start on but I am sure that as soon as the creative juices start flowing they will think of more things to do. I have some special projects that I want to work on for the girls. As I work on those I will post them however I cannot post the kids projects for some of my family sees this blog and we don't want them to know what they are getting. I want Christmas to be about giving of ourselves rather than what we can get. I want it to be a time to celebrate our loved ones and first and foremost the birth of our Lord and Savior. I think too this year for our family we are going t draw names and we will make a gift for that person. I am so excited!

Here is one of the gifts I will be working on

If I'm bad....

2010-10-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

My girls have said that they were told that when they came to America if they were bad that we would send them back. What does that say to a child about adoption? What does it say to them about their worth? I a mean they already struggle to come to grips with the reasons they are being adopted already. More importantly what does it say to them about how Jesus loves them? I found myself the other day angry at the enemy who planted that seed in my precious girls. I understand why someone might think that they are doing good by telling children that, but for me it is a lie straight from the enemy. My sweet, sweet daughter came to me and told me not to worry that she didn't believe that. When they told her that she told them No!, my mom and dad would not do that. She could tell that it really bothered me to think that they believed that I would only keep them if they were good. It was amazing to see her recognize that in me and then try to reassure me that this was not the case. They were told that but that she didn' believe it. But I have to wonder if they did wonder about that in the back of their minds. I wonder if there were times that the enemy brought that back to them to cause them to stumble and to try and cause separation. It makes me wonder too how many things that they battle because of the things that they were told that really have nothing directly to do with being adopted. I have to stop my mind at times from wondering about those things and trust that when the time is right God will reveal the things that need to be brought to the light and dealt with. I must not lean on my own understanding. I am sharing this in hopes that it will help someone else.

Because I am black and you are white!

2010-10-09T07:00:00.009-04:00

Have you had your child look at you, when you are correcting them, and them tell you that you are treating them that way because they are black and you are white? Well, let me just say that they first time it was said it was ignored. But this second time it could no longer be ignored. This time it hurt and it had to be addressed. There was a family meeting called and the lie exposed and talked about. We explained that under no uncertain terms was it to be said in our presence, in our home, or outside of our home. It was a lie from the pits of hell! We explained that once words are spoken they cannot be taken back. The line had been drawn and the offender was not to ever cross it again. So the question was asked if they had a problem with us being white and them being black. The look on the face of the offender was as if to say, how could you say such a thing! We explained that it was no surprise to us that they were black. We knew that they were black when we went to visit them. That all of sudden when they reached US soil that we were not shocked to find out that they were black. Jesus loves all people no matter what and that is how we set out to live our lives, loving people regardless of the color of their skin and disciplining our children according to their actions and deeds. But under no uncertain terms were they to accuse us of loving them less because of the color of their skin. We think that they are beautiful just the way that God created them. We pointed out the fact that all of us in the room had different shades of skin, different color of hair, different textures of hair, different color eyes, we are all created in God's image and wouldn't it be a boring world if we all looked exactly alike. There was healing that night, grace was given(even though it was hard), hearts were softened and changed. I share this with great reservation. However I am hoping that it will help someone else. I am open to questions and discussions.

Emotional Bank

2010-10-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

I really want to do better at pouring deposits into my children's emotional banks. I struggle with this because it is so easy for me to get caught up in the things that need to be done and the routine of it all and really I haven't trained myself to do so. I have asked God to show me ways that make deposits into their banks. Each one of them will be different and I have asked him for wisdom on how each of them need to have their banks filled. I was talking with a friend of mine and she gently reminded me that I need to make sure that their banks are filled for each time I need to correct them I make a withdraw from their emotional bank. I want them to be so filled that when I need to make a withdraw it doesn't hurt their heart or crush their spirit. She also said something that really struck me and it was that she wanted to be a mom that smiles at her children. When her children think of her she wants them to think about how she always has or had a smile on her face. I want that! I want my children to know that they are a joy to me. I want them to remember that no matter what I had a smile on my face. Boy I have such work to do but I know that the Lord is faithful to give me what I need to accomplish all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I would like to introduce you to....

2010-10-07T13:50:00.001-04:00

My sister! She has started her own blog http://thelifeofausnseabeewife.blogspot.com/ Her husband is being deployed and she just needs a place to go and share and be and a place she can find support through this very difficult time. Please hop on over and introduce yourself, support her and pray for her husband, his team and their family. There is no greater way to give back to our men and women in the military than to support their families while they are away.
Christina

Not complaining but shining like stars

2010-10-07T08:37:00.002-04:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about how complaining hinders God. "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." Philippians 2:14-18 Maybe I should say how I hinder God in using me. How my complaining keeps me from receiving all that he has for me. How does my complaining but him in a box? How does my complaining hinder the my growth and the growth of my children? How does my complaining hinder my thoughts and what doors do I open through my complaining? I don't remember reading in the Bible where Jesus complained. If we are to be like Christ and Christ did not complain then why on earth do I ever complain? I do not want to be one who complains but rather one who points to God's goodness.

Marriage

2010-10-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

I have heard some scary situations with Christian's whose marriage has been rocked to the very foundation. With my ten year anniversary coming up I have been thinking a lot about my marriage and how I want to prevent my marriage from attack. I want to prevent it instead of having to pick up the shattered pieces and try to put it back together. I have a good marriage but I want it to be better. I want it to be what God planned for it. I want to have the very best God has to offer in all areas of my life. With eight children in our home it can be really easy to put our relationship on the back burner. I want to bring it to the fore front. We work really well together on the parenting front, no doubt about that at all, but we rarely get to spend time together alone as a couple. I want that to change. I want to put up hedges of protection around our marriage. I want to safe guard it just like I do our children. So as I seek God on how to do this I am more than willing to share if anyone is interested. I would love for you all to share how you safe guard your marriage.

The changing out of the clothes

2010-10-05T09:38:00.000-04:00

Well the time has come to change out the clothes for the change of the season. I really do not like this time of year and I complain about it every year and I don't want to be that way any more. I want to find a way to praise my way through it. So I have decided that as I am going through a child's clothes I will thank God for them and think on how they bless in so many ways every day. I am going to thank God for the fact that we have the clothes that we have and my children will not be cold. Having a very large family clothing is truly a huge blessing! I am also thanking God for the person or persons that gave me the clothing. This may seem like a small thing, but complaining against the very thing that God has blessed me with now seems like ungratefulness and I am certainly not ungrateful!

Reading

2010-09-30T10:25:00.000-04:00

This year I signed my children up for the book it program through Pizza Hut! I am so excited! I know that two of my girls are older but they are beginner readers and not any where near being over the 6th grade. I think I am going to choose per book for the two and for my fourth grader I am going to choose amount of time. I can't wait until the first month is over so I can take them to get their free personal pan pizza. They are going to love it!

Update on timing school

2010-09-29T08:59:00.000-04:00

First of all I want to thank you all for your encouragement! The timer worked and we were finished by 2:30. I told them that I would not do school or help them after 2:30 but they would have to work until it was completed. It would be checked the following day and if they had to correct school it would be done after the assigned school for the day. It would continue that way until Friday. Friday is very light for us so they would have to do work Friday without my assistance. If they did not have it all completed on Friday they would do school on Saturday, again without my assistance. They did not like that one bit. So I gave them an hour for math, if they got finished before the hour was up they could work on something else of their choosing but when the hour was up for math and the next time slot had begun for the next subject they had to do the next subject in slotted time. Man I could not believe how fast that they got things done! It was beautiful:) No one wants to do extra work on Friday or do any school on Saturday. Life is good again. Well life is always good it's just good in school again.

Timing school

2010-09-28T09:34:00.001-04:00

I have decided to try the timer for school. It seems that the kids have come to love school so much that they are not finished with school until 4:30 and well as much as I love school and the fact that they love school I can no longer have days that are consumed with school until 4:30. The trouble is I have two that need my constant help and the others need theirs checked when they are finished, add three toddlers and a home and husband that also need to be taken care and it equals to= they need to get finished earlier! Anyone else have this problem and if so how did you deal with it?

A few of my favorite things

2010-09-24T17:55:00.002-04:00

I love baby feet! These belong to my precious Baby C.

These pictures are drawn by Tristen. He just decided that he wanted to draw. I looked up some pictures of flowers for him and he just began to draw. Who knows maybe there is a hidden talent there. I am going to encourage him and put whatever tools in his hands that I can and see what happens. He h

as been carrying his book around ever since then. We will see.

Scrapbooking to heal

2010-09-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

I have this idea that I really want to try with all our children but especially with our girls. I love scrapbooking and for any of you that do it know that it is a source of release for you. So I thought maybe it might help our girls work through their trauma of the natural disaster and loss and help them heal. I want to keep it simple. Three ring binder, page protectors, pictures, and art supplies and let them have at it. I will encourage them to write in it f coarse but I want it to be pressure free, no right or wrong just whatever you want to do. I am excited to see what it is that they come up with. I should have started it already but I am not sure that they were in a place to be able to do it and or feel it, if that makes any sense at all. But now I think that they are ready. I would love for all of you think about it, pray about it and see if this would be something that would help with your children as well. Maybe we can try to walk this out together by sharing how it is working for you and your children. I would love to hear your thoughts, if you decide to do this, hear how it is working for your children.

teaching and learning

2010-09-22T11:21:00.001-04:00

For me I have come to see that home schooling is not something that you do, but a way of life. It's what you spend your days doing once you remove unnecessary things like t.v. and running here and there. It is part of your day just like teaching your children the things of God. It wasn't always like this for me. It used to be something that I did just to say that it was done and when it was finished I could say " now we have gotten school out of the way.". It truly has become a way of life. I don't hear as often as I once did " I am bored!" I had to change my way of thinking and as I changed, my children's way of thinking about school has changed also. I love that! I love that they don't see it as something that they just have to get done but see it as a way of life!

Canning Applesauce

2010-09-21T19:45:00.003-04:00

Just in case you ever wondered it takes 15 pounds of apples to make 7 quarts of applesauce! 30 pounds later I have 14 quarts of applesauce. I made it chunky with spices so when it is warm it tastes like apple pie! MMMMMM! When it's hot the only thing missing is the ice cream! My children have eaten 3 quarts of it already. Part of me screams do you know how much went into making that! Well of coarse they do they helped. After spending three days canning I thought about how easy we really have it today. Back in the day people canned their food to last them through the winter. I thought how difficult it would be to have to can enough food for my family of 10 to make it through the winter. I don't even think I would begin to know how I would plan for that. I must say though it is definitely an event, but an event that the whole family can do together. I have to say that it taste so much better than anything I have ever tasted from the store. I hope next year I am able to do more canning. Something else my family loves is when I dehydrate fruit. When I do it is gone by the end of the day. So I think I would love to be able to can something pumpkin! Hmmmm I wonder what I could do? When I come up with something I will let you know!

Changes and excitement

2010-09-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am having the most wonderful time canning with my children! I never imagined that they would enjoy it so much. I never imagined that it takes 15 pounds of apples to make 7 quarts of apple sauce. Fall is my favorite time of year too. So excited to be able to do all the things that come with fall. But best of all our church has a building now and our women's meeting was held there last night and it was the most wonderful time! So many changes and learning new things and I am so excited to see what else God has in store for our family and our church. Every day God is showing us he loves us and it is little things but oh so big to our hearts. I know I am rambling so please forgive me. You know I would love to hear from you what your fall traditions are so please leave a comment, I love hearing from you!

Canning

2010-09-13T18:15:00.000-04:00

Today we went and picked apples then came home got the little ones fed, laid down for a nap and then that is when the rest of us got to work. It was awesome! Everyone had a job to do. Saintania blanched the tomatoes, Eveline peeled them, I cut them up and put them in the jars , Rheanna put in the salt and the lemon juice and Tristen took care of getting the jars and putting the lids on. It worked out so well and they were eager to work. In between batches of tomatoes we peeled and cored apples covered them with cinnamon and put them into two dehydrators. All this accomplished while also doing the laundry. I am tired to say the least. Tomorrow consists of more tomatoes and applesauce! I hope tomorrow goes as smoothly as today did.

Square peg in a round hole

2010-08-31T09:56:00.001-04:00

There are so many areas in life that we don't fit into people's comfort zone. They are used to round pegs and well we are square and they can't quite figure out how to handle us. Most times I don't give it a second thought as to what they are dealing with as far as trying to figure out how to put us into a perfect little package that looks like their package but there are times where well..... it makes me feel very lonely. It is very sad really but I am not alone that is for sure. There is something for everyone that others don't understand, like, why does she stay with him he is so mean to her. Why do they choose to tolerate the things that their family say to them. Whatever the thing, everyone has one or many things. But it grieves my heart that the enemy has tricked us and deceived us into our differences separating us instead of bringing us together in celebration because of our differences. God made each of us different and each of us have our own special unique job and walk to do for Him. I know that people do not understand because they have not stood under our calling from God and that is okay but it has really taught me to do my very best to walk in love. To be rooted in grounded in love and in those places that I struggle to do so that I am aware enough to see my weakness and ask for God's strength to love in a way that is pleasing to God and God only. I want to challenge you today that as you feel that same kind of misunderstanding or isolation in your life that you find ways to step out and love others even if you don't understand and if you can't in your own strength or know how, that you recognize that weakness and ask God to give you the strength to love them. It may not be to love them in a way that is known to you or makes sense to you either but in a way that is pleasing to God and in a way that the other person or persons can recognize the love. Please do not hesitate to leave a comment for I know that I am not alone in this. I pray that today you have the most wonderful and blessed day!

Christina

Grace

2010-08-09T08:06:00.000-04:00

Oh how I need grace! Sometimes I feel like a child walking from glory to glory. I mess up! I need forgiveness! I need grace! I am learning great compassion for my children as they grow and learn. Sometimes I judge them to harshly and I really dislike when I do that. Lord give me the grace and beauty that I need to teach my children as I grow and learn myself. Being a large family there are times that we just have to work together to make something happen. There are no other options and yesterday I got upset at them for not pulling together and working as a team when really I could have planned it better than just here ya go have at it and enjoy. Then on top of that instead of pulling to the side to talk to them I did in front of others. That's right I did it and it was so wrong and I feel so bad. But I am asking God to help me with that and to better plan out my plan of attack. I am determined not to be defeated but to push forward with grace and beauty all the while being rooted and grounded in love. I make mistakes they make mistakes and we learn and we go on. Some times it is the go on part that I struggle with. I want to spend time feeling so bad about the mistakes that I have made but this time I am determined not to allow myself to dwell on it but to apologize and get back up and try it again. I will figure this out and I will be victorious in Jesus Name!

Great homeschool site

2010-08-05T13:46:00.000-04:00

I just found this site http://www.guesthollow.com/blog.html so I haven't had a chance to look at everything, but what I have looked at I love! They even make out a schedule for you. So if your budget is tight this year go and check this out. You may even check it out even if your budget isn't screaming because you just might like how they have it set up and the things that they offer. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of it!

Preparing the fields

2010-08-05T09:11:00.000-04:00

We are preparing our fields to receive the things that we have been believing God for. In one of our fields some unexpected work came when we began to prepare said field. So now we are believing God for what we need to finish preparing the field. Some fields we look at and have to ask God how do you prepare a field like this. Have you even had a field that you just weren't sure how to prepare for the rain? I know though, that God is faithful to show us what we need to do. There are also times that I believe that we must take a leap of faith before God will move or show us what to do next. Remember the Indiana Jones movie? He needed to get to the other side but there was no bridge? Do you remember what happened next, he took a step forward and when he did the bridge appeared under his feet! Sometimes I think that is how we must approach what we are believing God for. Even though we don't see, we walk out in faith. So how is that God is telling you to prepare your fields?

Where does the time go!

2010-08-02T09:35:00.000-04:00

This is the time of the year that most of our birthday's fall. I can't believe how fast it has gone bye, it is August already. Time with my family is so precious and even though I spend every day with them I want to do more fun things together. I want to live my life on purpose for God and for my family. There are so many things I want to do, see and experience and I want to do it with my family. I am so very blessed by the family that God has knit together for me and I am so excited to see what he brings our way next. Life is exciting and fun and I want to live it to the fullest!

We have a new edition

2010-07-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

to our family! A sweet little boy who just turned one last month. He has blue/green eyes, blonde hair and the sweetest smile that just melts your heart! He is a very happy baby and he is growing and learning new things every day and I am blessed to witness it. I feel so very blessed :)

Rooted and grounded in love

2010-07-27T10:13:00.000-04:00

Is we are working on in our home. Looking beyond what someone does that just rubs us the wrong way and respond in love not react in wickedness. This is a very hard thing to learn and to teach. But as I am seeking God in how to disciple our children I am finding that it begins with me. Am I reacting or responding to them. I find that my children are the mirror in which I can gage my depth of love. If there is something in them I am not liking, I have learned that I first must examine myself and seek to change the very thing I desire to be changed in my children. Once I have accomplished that then I can move to teach my children how to do it also. Being a parent there are times that it is hard to not feel rejection by their behaviors and that is the moment that I must respond in love and choose not to be offended. We are teaching our children that the "game" is not won out on the field but in practice. The practice is within our own family. If we cannot be rooted and grounded in love with our family how is it that we can be rooted and grounded in love out in the world? If we cannot choose to not be offended with our own family how can we not be offended out in the world? If you cannot obey your parents who you can see how will you be able to obey God who you cannot see? What is it that you and your family are working on and how are you teaching it?

Happy Birthday Cornelia!!!

2010-07-26T14:46:00.000-04:00

What a blessing this sweet little angel is to our family! Three years ago God blessed us with this precious little gift. She is so smart and funny! She makes us laugh all the time. I love everything about her!

How chores are divided in our home

2010-07-14T07:38:00.000-04:00

I divide our chores up by room and each child is responsible for a room. In each room I have a list posted on the wall of what is to be done in that room each day of the week. For the front room (this is where all the kids toys are) it is to be picked up after lunch and before bed time, swept every other day and dusted once a week. The living room has two children that work in there and it is to be picked up after lunch and before bed. The living room, kitchen, dining room and bathrooms have a schedule and a child to do that. Extra things that are only done once a week like sweeping up the stairs and sweeping the foyer upstairs are written on pieces of paper and the children draw them. The dishes the girls are responsible for they rotate breakfast, lunch, and they all do dinner and they rotate who washes, dries and puts away. Laundry is done by all of us and we have certain days to which certain peoples laundry gets done. The outside of the home is maintained by the boys. These past couple of weeks our youngest daughter has become interested in helping with the dishes so the girls are teaching her to rinse the dishes. They get her a little step ladder for her to stand on. So they are now training her and I love it! If you have any questions I would be more than happy to answer them.

I have to say that I prayed and asked God to show me what would work for my family and he is always faithful to show me.

How I school with little ones

2010-07-13T09:56:00.000-04:00

I started doing it this way this past year and I love it and it just works so great for us. We have a sun room and all the little kids toys and a tv in there. I sit with them in the morning playing with them or watching them play. During this time the older kids are doing their independent work in the dining room. They come into the sun room if they need help or to get their school corrected. Then morning chores, lunch and the little ones down for naps then we work on My Father's World which we all do together. Usually we are done by the time the little ones are up and then it is afternoon chores. Free time after that. Come late afternoon the girls and I prepare dinner and then evening chores. Free time after that for tv time. That is how we get school and chores done everyday. In between all of that we do laundry. I would be happy to give a more detail account of the things done during the morning, afternoon and evening if anyone is interested. Just let me know.

Haiti

2010-07-12T20:34:00.001-04:00

I still think about the Haitians every day. Please continue to pray for them.

Adopting older girls

2010-07-10T10:02:00.000-04:00

Adopting two older girls has been the biggest blessing. I never imagined it could be such an amazing gift. Has it been difficult, well yes and no, we have been foster parents for many years and we have seen some stuff and been through some stuff, so what they girls had to offer was nothing in compare. However it is different than having foster children. There is a bonding and....well just something different. The years that we waited for them to come home we prayed that God would whisper our voices in their ears telling them that we loved them and missed them terribly and couldn't wait for them to come home. We also prayed that God would create a bond and attachment in all of our hearts before they even came home. That God would begin to prepare all of our hearts. I believe that he did that just that. One of the hardest things we had to work on was obedience. This is just my opinion but I believe that through obedience there builds trust and with trust builds a bond and attachment. One time with one of the girls it was the hardest moment I had ever had to go through and God spoke to me and told me to tell her-I know it is hard for you to understand what having a mother is all about and I know that you don't know what it is like to be in a family with a mom and dad and siblings, I get that, I respect that, but it is my job to teach you but you have a job too and it is to be willing to learn. You could see something on her that just broke or clicked , I am not sure what word to use to describe it but it was amazing. I then had her look at her dad and God told me to tell her that her behavior had totally disrespected her dad. She looked at him and something happened that I never in a million years expected. Before she was so hard and tough on the outside but I knew better and yet what happened next totally took me a back. She broke and ran, hugging him around his neck and she about knocked him over, she was sobbing uncontrollably, I thought she was going to hyperventilate, after a while I had to come over and help her to regulate her breathing and from that moment on things were different. I have also told my girls that they were ordained by God to be here. They are right where God wants them to be so that no matter how they are feeling or what they are going through they need to give it to God and do their very best to glorify God right where they are at. We have worked a lot on attitude to the point that our 2 year old daughter gives our 2 year old son speeches on attitude. We always take them to the word of and what His word says about their actions. We talk about their relationship with God and what God requires of them. This has been the key to destroying the attitude. God's word does not come back void. I must say that you cannot let one thing pass. You have to be faithful to correct every behavior that is not of God. One time I had them weed a flower bed. There were big weeds that were hard to pull out and little weeds that were very easy to pull out. I told them that the weeds in the flower bed were like the sin in our hearts. Then I asked them which weed was easiest to pull out the big weeds or the little weeds. Of coarse the answer was the little weeds. I told them that is why I am being very faithful to address every behavior that is not pleasing to God because it is easier to correct the little things before they become big like the weeds they were pulling out. I do that not because I want to pick on them, but because I love them and that is my job as their mother to guide them in the ways of the Lord. Wouldn't they rather work on the issues when they are little instead of waiting until they get so big that it is very hard to pull them out by the roots. The answer was yes! I have also had a moment when there was great attitude and this is how I helped them to understand, I had the girl in question hug me, I pushed her away. I said my hands pushing you away was the enemy and that is what he wants to do between our family. I asked her to hug me again and this time I asked her to try to keep me from pushing her away and reminded her that my hands were not pushing her away but the enemy trying to separate us. Again she hugged me, a little firmer this time. I told her good. I then asked her to do it again and be determined not to let the hands of the enemy separate us and this time I could not push her away. I told her that when she feels things come on her that don't glorify God or stirs bad things up in the family that she needs to resist the enemy just like when I was trying to push her away and that is she didn't know how to come and get her dad or I and we will help her or just pray. She has always chosen to have us pray with her. The attitude is less and less and the when it does rise it is addressed quickly and it ends quickly as well. I tell all of these things in hopes that it helps people even if it is just one person. I believe that we walk through things so that we can call back to others this is the way.

Christina

Adoption and firsts

2010-07-05T11:46:00.000-04:00

Our older girls are in the church youth group and they love it. Dad usually takes the older kids to youth while I stay at home with the younger kids. But I am at a place that I no longer want it to be that way. Even though the girls are older they are experiencing so many firsts. Not only do I want to be there for that I want to be there for my other older children so that we may lead them and guide them in their walk. It is so important to be there for each other. I am not talking about standing right there by there sides while they talk with their friends but just to be there just in case. My teens need me just as much as my younger children do only in a different way. So I have decided that I am going to participate in as much as I possibly can even if that means I am bringing my 4 younger children with me. This weekend is a movie and I am going! (it's the girls first movie in a theater) I am trusting God to make financial provision as we all know that movies are not cheap. Near the end of this month is Cedar Point and well I want to be there for the girls first roller coaster ride and to watch the others be dare devils! I am so excited but also believing God for great financial provision! What am I trying to say? Well, simply this, for those who have younger children as well as teens, don't miss out on life with your teens because you have little ones, bring them along. It may be difficult at first but well worth it! I am living by faith that God will provide and jumping up and down on the inside because I am so excited to take these adventures with all of my children! Christina

Homeschool

2010-07-01T10:07:00.000-04:00

So this year I am trying something new. Something that I felt like the Lord told me to do. We are schooling all year and I have to say that I love it! My children complained at first but it didn't last long. We are not doing the full out school right now but we are still doing reading, spelling and math. I think it is really important to do this for all of them but especially for Saintania and Eveline. Math for them has been math drills since they came. The book that I use for that is Timed Math Drills. On Monday I give them a packet for instance this week they have subtraction 6. I also make them go back and correct any that they got wrong. For Spelling I use the Abeka books but I only use them for the lists. I then take the list and go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ where I then put the list in and print out sheets for handwriting print or cursive, right now all of mine are on cursive, sentence writing, match the to the sentence and many more. I love this site for spelling. What ever words they miss for the week I will then add to the next weeks spelling list. For spelling the week looks like this, Monday they will write their spelling words in cursive, and there is an example for them to follow, three times each. Tuesday they will write sentences for each spelling word. Wednesday depending on which child they will do alphabetical or which word belongs in the sentence and they will have an oral quiz and the words that they miss they need to write them ten times each. Thursday is another activity sheet and another oral quiz and they will again write the words that they miss. Friday is test day and if they get them all correct you can print off a certificate for them. They love that. I am considering having Eveline and Saintania write out the definitions of their spelling words because there are words that they don't know what they mean. But I am still praying about that. Reading we do together and I keep a log book of what all of them read. For Saintania and Eveline I use Hooked on phonics Reading Power. They are short stories with questions at the end for comprehension. So that is what our schooling looks like for the summer.

Life is never what you think

2010-06-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

it's going to be because God is just way more awesome than our minds can comprehend. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 So very true and I am learning more and more everyday. As I stay open to receive and open to seek Gods ways before my ways God does things so amazing that I just stand in awe. God is doing things that I thought was done and over. Making a way for things where there seemed to be no way. Renewing my strength in areas I thought would never be renewed. Life with God is so exciting! There is always a new adventure waiting just around the corner if we are willing to be open to see it and receive it. I am learning to walk minute by minute with God and it is so very exciting. A couple of verses that God gave me many years ago and I just feel lead to share is Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." and Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." Whatever or whomever seems to pushing in all around you today God is in control trust in Him and seek His ways, not your own, in the situation you are facing.

Christina

Teenagers! I have four!

2010-06-18T09:03:00.000-04:00

So many times I have heard "oh you have two teenager daughters? Girls are all about the drama." or "two teenage boys? Well you know they must sow their wild oats." Um!!! No!!! No where in my Bible does it say that my girls will be drama queens and my boys must sow their wild oats. I refuse to let anyone and I mean anyone speak that over my children and I certainly refuse to come into agreement with that. I also have never read in my Bible where it says now your children are teenagers they will no longer be a joy to you. All I am saying is to always be careful what you come into agreement with over your children whether it is your teenagers or younger children. The world says many things about children that does not line up with the word of God and sometimes we as Christians will allow ourselves to become desensitized to this. Children are precious and a blessing and they are to be guarded.

Christina

Abel's adoption!

2010-06-16T15:58:00.000-04:00

My husband Bill is holding Abel

In this picture are friends, case workers and our attorney.

Well here are a few pictures from today!!! I am so happy that this has happened! We are truly blessed to have him in our lives! What a glorious day:)

Tomorrow is the big day!!!!

2010-06-15T20:43:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the day that we officially by law have a new member of the family. Abel will be Abel Malachi Wyatt!! I will post pictures tomorrow!

Jewelry

2010-06-14T14:46:00.000-04:00

I have been working on making jewelry and I thought I was going to have a website but to have decided instead to keep my costs down for now to sell it on my blog http://www.shekinahglorydesigns.blogspot.com/. Please check it out and leave a comment and let me know what you think or better yet be the first one to buy something:)

Christina

New Candles!

2010-06-09T20:52:00.000-04:00

It occured to me that maybe some of you follow our candle blog or even on Facebook so I thought that I would post it here to!http://www.shekinahglorycandles.blogspot.com/ . These are two of our new candles!

Walking in love to lift the hurting to the feet of Jesus

2010-06-08T11:19:00.002-04:00

As we walk through our journey we call life we sometimes walk as wounded souls and our wounds sometimes wound others. But the beauty is that Jesus came so that we do not have to carry these wounds. We can be healed and set free from our wounds. Love is also the other beautiful thing that helps us to over come our wounds. God's love and God's love in the people around us helps us to sometimes see the wounds and walk with us and support as we heal. Sometimes the actions we see from others are wounds that we do not understand or they do not even understand but none the less real. They are not personal attacks against us or who we are as a person but they very well may be attacks against who we represent as a human (mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, friend, son, daughter, etc.) and for this we must not allow ourselves to stumble and sin because of it. We must at all cost choose to love and to love as God loves us. To take ourselves out of the situation so to speak so that we may be able to love as Christ has loved us and does love us. When we take the time to really search for the answers as to why or how to help the hurting one in our lives understand where the root of the pain started we need to be careful that we do not get caught up in the whirl wind of pain and sin that the enemy is swirling and flinging all around us. We must be determined to stay focused on God and determined not to get swept up in the work of the enemy as we try to lift our loved ones to the feet of Jesus so that they may receive the healing and deliverance that they so desperately need.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and flood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Christina

Memeorial day weekend

2010-06-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

Check out this give away!

2010-06-04T09:27:00.000-04:00

Jen at Whole Food Kids, 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time, Mega-Family Blogs, and life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day, is giving away a Zoku 7-Minute Pop Maker!

And just in case you don't know any awesome Popsicle recipes, she's throwing in THIS book, too!

This entire package is worth over $60! To enter, go HERE.

Unkind speech

2010-06-03T10:57:00.000-04:00

When we have to deal with unkind speech in our children there are three things that we do.
1. isolate that child from the rest of the group-for us that means that the child has to stay right by my side until
the attitude and unkind speech have pasted.
2.there is a period where they are no longer allowed to speak. If they have needs that need to be met they
they have to write it out on paper.
3. The offended has to write things that they are thankful for about the person they were unkind to in their speech.

How do I choose which one to use? Well it depends on the level of offense and if that person keeps repeating the offense. This is where I lean on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I ask God to help me be consistent in my discipline in this area because it is so easy to let it slip by and go uncorrected. But it is an important area to teach and disciple.

Christina

Training

2010-06-02T10:19:00.000-04:00

Nothing like starting the day with two of my daughters fighting! Love that, not! Then one of them says she did something then when I ask her why she did that, she then tells me that she didn't. I have a really hard time dealing with children who have a hard time admitting that what they did was wrong. I have to tell myself that I am training. I have to remind myself that I am catching up on many years where there was not that intense family training. It also seems that without doing school and keeping them busy I need to do more training. I try to always place the offender in the others place and then back to what God's word says about it. It is exhausting to have to do this kind of training but so worth it in the long run. But exhausting....(big sigh)

Christina

Memorial Day weekend!

2010-06-01T17:20:00.001-04:00

We had the most wonderful time! We went swimming at the beach, camping (with some friends), wrangled some chickens, roasted marshmallows, loved on (or chocked almost to death) some adorable little kittens, ate cherries right of off the tree, petted some sheep and a horse, planted a garden, stayed up way to late and got up way to early, ate way tooooo much food and gathered some farm fresh eggs. We had our dogs with us the whole time and they did great! The little ones did great too! It was the most wonderful time I have had in a long time and I can't wait to do it again!!!!

I forgot to say that it was our two year old daughter who was catching the chicken! I love that:)

We have a magic dog!

2010-05-24T20:56:00.001-04:00

So yesterday evening we went to the park with a friend. Both dogs in the house, one in the cage and the other one (we thought) blocked on the first floor. We we got home the dog on the first floor was out back on the dog tie out. We were very perplexed as to how she got there. We went to let the other dog out the back door and there was card from the dog warden. A few minutes later our neighbors knocked on the door. They came to tell us what happened. Our dog was on the roof of our second story! Some people were walking down the side walk and our dogs barking caught their attention so they called the police. The police in turn called the dog warden. Our sweet neighbors came out and saved our dog. They told the dog warden that our dog was very friendly, that we have lots of kids and are very responsible people. So they got a ladder and carried our sweet dog down off of the roof and tied her out back. Thank goodness for our neighbors and concerned passers by. So we went on the hunt for how she got out of the house. But there were no windows open! But! We have a window air conditioning unit on the second story window and you know the things on the side that expand out to fill the window, well she pushed through that and got out onto the roof. So I had my guys take it out because I was afraid that if the dog figured that out that one of the little ones would figure that out. So until we can figure out of to make it safe for our little ones it is hot box city for those on the second floor!

Good times!

Christina

Homeschooling blog

2010-05-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

This is a new site that I have come across. I have not been able to look at everything on there but I passing it along in hopes that it encourages someone. http://lifenurturingeducation.com/

Christina

Melt your heart sweet!

2010-05-23T16:19:00.002-04:00

So as I am making jewlery my two year old daughter kept asking me"mommy I want a ring" .Yesterday I went through all my buttons to see what I could make a rings out of and I came across these little buttons. So today she asked me again. So I said okay and I sat down and made her this adorable(if I do say so myself) little ring. She was thrilled and raced off to show her big sisters. Then when she saw me loading the picture she kept saying "that's my ring mommy". So melt your heart sweet! :)

Spring Cleaning

2010-05-21T08:27:00.000-04:00

Decluttering and weeding out is not a fun thing to do at all and that is where I am at right now. Going through and making the decision to keep or get rid of and it can prove to be difficult sometimes. Then there is also the need to change out everyone's winter clothes for summer ones. What I do that seems to make the task a little easier is I plant myself in one spot and I gather everyone to help me. Many hands makes the work light. Non the less stressful at times but lighter. The girls enjoy this more than the boys and that's okay. The girls are learning life skills for running a home. As we work together we are building relationships as well as learning. It seems as though when I get one room finished and on to the next the finished room is a welcome invitation to come in and tear it up again. There is a strong urge the little ones just cannot resist:)

Christina

Up to something new!

2010-05-20T08:09:00.000-04:00

Making jewelry has been something that I have been dabbling in for a little while and I am making it in a way that I really love and that is crocheted. Now I know what you are thinking but it is crocheted wire. I have a couple of pieces that are not wire but they are not yarn either. Please stop by and leave me a comment to let me know what you think. Also for $5 you could win a set of jewelry! http://www.shekinahglorydesigns.blogspot.com/

Thanks
Christina

Race to Lixue!!!!!!

2010-05-19T16:02:00.001-04:00

Please consider helping my very good friend Terry and her husband Brad as they race to adopt a young girl from China. Time is of the essence so they need the money quickly to finish each step! I know it is not right or fair that each step takes money but it does. This young girl will be 14 next year and if they don't get her home before she is 14 her chance of having a family is over!!!! Please donate and enter the chance to win! Also if you can donate an item that would be great! Just get with me and I will connect you or be that connection for you or you can contact her directly! Race to LiXue

raffle item for Terry at http://www.shekinahglorydesigns.blogspot.com/

Mom on a mission

2010-05-19T08:42:00.001-04:00

Living in SUB-mission, this is a wonderful site and as a Mom this post today has given me something to think about. How many times have you said "I am just a mom"? I know I have. Lately God has been changing my focus, my thoughts on being a mom. Not that I ever thought that being a mom was not important or a blessing but I guess I had the feeling of wanting to something greater for God. But I have come to realize that there is nothing greater out there. There really is no higher calling than what God has called you to do. Doing anything other than what He has called you to do is less. There have been weeks when the only time that I have left the house is to go to church on Sunday and I would think, how can I possibly touch lives for Christ when I don't leave my home. All the while I failed to see that I am touching lives for Christ and it is the lives of each one of my children and if I only had seven lives to touch for Christ I would choose those seven lives. When I changed my perspective and see things the way that God sees them the peace and joy flow more freely.

Christina

Adopting again!

2010-05-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

My friend Cate and her family are adopting again. Please go to their blog Cate and Seans pendants with a purpose and read their story and help support them on this journey. They are amazing people with hearts that beat after His. Please pray and see how you can support them and check out their beautiful pendants they are selling to raise the funds for their 4th child.

Trans-racial adoption and the world

2010-05-17T11:37:00.002-04:00

There is a lot swirling around in the media about trans-racial adoptions and I am by no means an expert on political correctness and I am only speaking on what we have told our children and how we address these issues. I have spoken with my girls about the difference of our skin color and this is what I have told them. That no matter the color of our skin we were both created in God's image and with that being the truth of God's word than we look just like our Father and with that being the case it would stand to reason that we all created in perfect beauty. We all look like our Father and that is what we need to look at be it white, black , brown or olive. We are trying to teach them to identify themselves with Christ not with other people. That does not mean that we are trying to be blind to the fact that people will say things and if that ever does happen we will bring them to the word and what God says and direct them to forgiveness, forbearance and anything other godly thing that the situation deals with. I guess what I am trying to say is that we are trying to teach them to have godly character. Even when Jesus was being crucified he was not brought to anger, pain, bitterness, or any other feeling that comes when people say or do hurtful things to you. Does it still hurt when people say and do hurtful things yes but we take it to God and seek his ways on dealing with it. That is the best way I know to deal with the things of this world. It is no different in my eyes when hurtful things are done to us or said to us that have nothing to do with the color of our skin. So why would we handle things dealing with the color of our skin any differently? Through God I can raise godly secure children no matter what the world says or does.

Christina

Catching up

2010-05-17T10:41:00.000-04:00

Reading with the girls proved to be difficult for me. They are reading at this point at best for one second grade level and the other first grade. Now I hesitated on sharing this information but I decided to do so in hopes that it just might help a frustrated mom. The problems that make me struggle is they can read some three, four , five lettered words but struggle with two letter words or I can tell them what a word is and two words away the word reappears and they do not know what it is. This frustrated me a great deal along with the fact that reading with two children took an hour because of the speed at which they read. Even in the moment I told myself that this should not frustrate me. But it did. I had a talk with my mom and she helped me a lot. I knew it was silly and I knew that I shouldn't be frustrated. I admitted to it but I was stuck and having a hard time moving past it. So this is what I decided to do. If they read a word wrong I tell them it is wrong give them a second to see if they self correct and if not I am going to tell them the word. For one it is important that they read every day and it is important that they love to read. Also it is more important that I spend that one on one time with them. Time with them one on one is precious. So I have decided to look at that one on one time as precious moments that God has given to me and that I shouldn't waste them being frustrated and I shouldn't allow that wall of frustration on both our sides to be built. The more I read with them the better they will get and the stronger our relationship will grow and that is what is most important to me. I hope that this encourages just one person.

Christina

Large family

2010-05-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

You know you have a large family when
You use a 12 cup mixing bowl to make pancakes.
When your family eats 7 dozen eggs a week.
When you have to take showers in shifts and shifts begin before dinner.
When you have one laundry basket is filled with mate less socks.
When laundry day in your house is all day everyday and you have two washers and two dryers.
When you invite a family of four over for dinner and you can't even tell that they have eaten.
When you go to a function and you take up two rows or worse you have to divide your family into teams to sit down.
When you pull up to a diner with a glass front building and the windows are filled with staring eyes and when your children wave at them they continue to stare.
When people ask "are they all yours?"
When you would love to answer that question with "no I just picked them up out front I thought I would try them out and see how I liked them."
When you have a family gathering and it takes three families to equal your one.
When you have to break out the calculator to figure out how to make a recipe four times the serving size.

These are just the ones I can think of just off the top of my head:)

I love my large family and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

How we pour God's word into our children

2010-05-14T07:20:00.001-04:00

This its what I have felt like the Lord has told me to do for our family when it comes to tattling and petty bickering Brother offended chart. I have had this chart for years and really have not taken the time to use it. But the other day I took the two who were involved in the offense and simply read this chart to them. By the time I was finished attitudes had changed and the apologies happened without any further instruction from me. Hugs were given also. I have used this book For Instruction in Righteousness for years and I love it. For afternoon Bible study I use this and I love it The Narrow Way. I want to add Plants Grow Up and Polished Cornerstones to our morning Bible study. Here is what they believe What they believe in case you were wondering. Gods word does not come back void and as I pour God's word into my children I know that there will be change and growth. Once again I hope that this helps someone. I think both sites has something for all ages.

Christina

Trailer to a documentary my family is in

2010-05-13T16:42:00.000-04:00

Please check out my blog to see a trailer to the documentary that my family is in.

Choose life or choose death

2010-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

These are the two choices that I give my children when we disciple them. Choosing life is choosing to do what God would want us to do and glorifies him and choosing death is choosing to do the things that our flesh wants and what the enemy likes. I give them a moment to process that and think about what they want out of life. I always bring to them in any situation to what God's word says about that situation and I will turn that situation around on them. If this happened to you or you were in this place how would that make you feel. Then I ask them do you choose life or do you choose death. I have yet to have one of them choose death. So when they say I choose life we talk about ways that we can choose to do better. Here are ways that we can handle this situation and give them scripture that backs up the fact that they can handle these situations. We also deal with children owning up to the part that they played in the situation and wanting to tell us what part the other party played in it or what happened that "made them" make the wrong choices. I turn that back to them and ask them, am I talking to you about what that other person did or am I talking to you about what you did? I am talking to you right now about what you did. We will have to stand before God and give an account for what we did, not what we did because so and so did this first. God is not interested in that. So I take them to the word again to see what He says about offense, forgiveness, forbearance, long suffering and love. Granted this other person may have not been right in what they did but right now I am talking to you about what you did. You and only you can answer for what you did and how you chose to handle the situation. We also take a look and see if our actions glorify God. Which then leads me back to choosing life or choosing death. Then we talk about why we should do the right thing. Back to the word again. And the question is asked do you love God? I have never had one answer no on that question either. So that then I ask do you understand what was wrong and how to choose to do it differently and I ask questions accordingly to make sure that they are truly understanding everything that we just talked about. That is a general outline of how discipleship goes here in our home. Again I hope that it all made sense and I hope that it helps someone.

Christina

Dealing with.....

2010-05-12T13:24:00.000-04:00

Back talking, interrupting, what ever form it takes and what ever it is that you want to name it. It comes when said child is being asked if they had done something that offended someone, or done something that they shouldn't have pretty much when correction or discipleship is brought to them. So today the Lord told me to have this child put their finger to their lips and not to remove it until they were told that they could speak. Then I talked to them and told them that I wanted them to think about all the things I was saying and that they need to think about the choices that they wanted to make, choose life, choose death. Now I want you think about all the things I have said to you a moment before I allow you to take your finger away from your mouth and answer me. Give said child a few minutes to think and come back and then say now when I allow you to take your finger away from your mouth I want you to talk to me without talking loudly and with attitude. I want you to speak calmly and quietly to me. Then I asked said child if they were ready. Allowed child to take their finger away from their mouth and child talked to me calmly and quietly. I am proud of this child and I thank the Lord that he gives me ways to correct and teach my children when I just listen to Him. I hope that everything I said makes sense and it will be able to help someone else.

Christina

So many thoughts...

2010-05-12T09:18:00.000-04:00

I have so many thoughts and things on my heart and I am having a hard time posting because I am having a hard time collecting the words to express them. No nothing bad is going on just the opposite a lot of growing and deep thoughts are going on. Thoughts on loving others the way that God loves us in all situations not just the easy ones. Adoption and caring for the orphaned and my deep love for that and the call on my life concerning that. The need of the Haitian people is another. Also the need of the people right here in my own community. Of coarse the needs of my family too. So many thoughts and having a hard time organizing those thoughts to put them into words. Let me begin with this. I had thought that when the girls came home and we adopted our son that our journey with adoption would be over and I even made that statement. The reasons I thought it was over was because one I was in a selfish state thinking I cannot give any more I am tired (this was during the time that I was still waiting on the girls to come home and I was weary) and the other is because I was looking right in front of my face at how could we possibly take care of any more. But quickly after I made that statement to my husband my heart began to grow heavy and an intense sadness came over me. I went to the Lord and He said to me "Did you ask me if you were finished?" Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! I quickly repented and told the Lord that whatever he wanted, however many children he wanted us to have I will gladly receive and then I went to my husband in tears telling him that I thought we made a grave mistake. We had not asked the Lord if we were finished. We took it upon ourselves to decide that were finished. He agreed. So together we made a promise to God that however many children he wanted us to have we wanted them all. When we first started into fostering God clearly showed me and told me that our jobs were to love them and tend to their needs as their parents and his job was to provide for them. So I am clinging to that as I say to God not my will but yours Lord. As I am writing this I am brought to the thoughts of how often I do this in other areas of my life. I say, I am going in this direction without even bothering to think about asking God where he would like me to go. Lord forgive me for all the times I have taken my own path and not the one you placed before me.

Christina

True Life Church

2010-05-08T19:59:00.000-04:00

Check out what is happening at True Life Church!

We would love to have you!

Adoption

2010-05-04T09:32:00.000-04:00

So happy to announce that we have a date to adopt our son! I am so excited!

Christina

Rocky wants his cake and eat it too!

2010-04-27T17:58:00.001-04:00

Okay so you remember that Saintania had a birthday recently and with that comes cake. Well there was a piece of cake that was left and it went out to the trash in the nifty little container that cakes come in. The girls were outside playing today and had come back in but when they returned back outside to play Eveline saw a squirrel run up into this tree with the remaining piece of cake. They came in and told me but I thought that they meant that the lid flew up in the tree or something. Rheanna tells me no mom the last piece of cake that was left. So I just had to go and see it for myself and low and behold there is was! Way up high in the tree. I wasn't even sure that I was going to get a picture of it. But here it is!

Christina