To God be the glory great things He has done!

In searching for what it is God is trying to do with us in this unusual season of life, I just realised tonight after putting my 3 children to bed that today I brought glory to God in what I did today!? What did I do, looked after a sick child, got entertained by my 2 year olds antics, played math and spelling games with another and lay around the rest of the day watching movies with the kids, cause I am sick myself! How does that bring glory to God, my purpose in this season is to raise my kids, to be their mom, to nuture them and teach them! So today because I have said no to the ways of the world, have chosen to be home with my kids, have chosen to live with less to do that - I got to bring glory to God by being 'busy in my home' as Proverbs 31 puts it, I didn't have to go to work sick, send my kids to school sick, or call in sick myself, or pay for daycare, no I got to still be mom - I had margain in my life to be sick and to do it with my kids. Thank you Lord for your grace in my life, that frees me to be my childrens mother.

Homeschooling article

This article was sent to me by a non homeschooling parent who has no hard feelings toward homeschoolers. It was recently brought up at Park Day and was asked to be put on the buzz. In light of others opinions...well, we all have an opinion of our own, don't we?! These are opportunities to pray for lost people. When lost people act like they are lost we don't shoot them, we pray. I hesitate to even send it but since several of you wanted it....it is here for you! > > *SONNY SCOTT*> > 6/8/2008 9:39:01 AM> Daily Journal> > You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.> > It's a big family by today's standards - "just like stair steps," as the > old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls > with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the > store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.> > There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. > The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.> > You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home > schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for > academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively > recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are > conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as > high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to > support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a > deal for the public.> > Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and > are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and > varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, > suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular > schools. Others are concerned for their children's safety. Some want > their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the > public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the > movement.> > Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and > the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming > under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.> > Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?> > Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home > schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.> > Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an > indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto > Caesar the things that Caesar's be, but they draw the line at their > children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and > effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of > defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.> > Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king > upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state's bureaucrats on > these "trouble makers." Their implicit rejection of America's most > venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. "Individualism") spurs us to heat > the furnace and feed the lions.> > Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and > day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations > begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) > "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy > brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, > and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter's wedding, it does.) > And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours > with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, > philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a > boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a > 2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to > finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim > "our right" to pursue a career for our own> "self-fulfillment."> > Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. > We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of > something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from > working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k's. > Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. > Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as > his price for doing his school work ... and there goes that modest young > woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved > home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn't you just love to wipe that > serene look right off her smug face?> > Is it any wonder we hate her so?> > Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County> and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com.>

Well life has been sweet and we had a wonderful week with our beautiful kids. Daniel finished up school and graduated at scouts, he has been in his first year as a Tiger Scout and has had a blast with David, they do a father-dad thing the first year, they had a graduation down at the lake and David got to present him with his new cap and book as he is now a wolf, he has really enjoyed scouts and enjoyed meeting lots of new homeschool friends.

This weekend Timmy and Daniel finished up their soccer season and very proudly wore their medals they both received. David and I got to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, our very sweet and kind friends Dan and Marilou took the kids overnight again for us as they so kindly do, so we can get a break once in a while, we had a lovely relaxing quiet evening.

We also celebrated sweet Timmy's 5th birthday this weekend, as I am going to be away for his birthday, we had a Spidey party and he was so excited and the Lord so graciously gave us beautiful weather, we had a lots of his friends over (and mine and Davids too) and the kids played and had an awesome time in our back yard. Thanks for everyone who made it a really special day for him.

David's sister and her family spent the night and David had the kids do the pledge of allegiance this morning as he put the flag out front (today was Memorial Day to remember all those who has served their country in the services -for my SA friends) . Abby was really sweet as usual trying to copy the older kids, then we all headed down to the pool for frigid swimming and a bbq. We had a little tea party for the kids afterwards, Tony seems to have taken a liking to drinking hot tea and requested another tea party before he left today - he remembered it from last summer at our house- and we do it proper english style at our house! it was really sweet, all the kids sat round the table drinking tea (making a mess) and eating leftover birthday cake.

I pray you are all well, I have 4 more days till I leave on my trip, following I have posted some prayer requests for our trip.

Have a blessed day y'all!!

We are leaving Knoxville this Friday morning bright and early at 6am. We have a very long and arduous trip to get there, and Lord willing it will be a safe and uneventful one.

I want to thank you all for your support as my friends whether you supported me as a friend, financially, caring for my kids, feeding my family, praying for us. I am blessed by each of you individually and know I could not have done it without everyones help in fighting the unseen spiritual battles that have been going on in our preparation for this trip. The Lord has made the way very clear and continued to open doors along the way and provide for me and allowed me to see my part in this trip and that it is completely His doing and not mine.

I ask that you continue to pray and intercede for us - we will be leaving Fri May 30 and returning Thurs 19 June, there are 11 of us going.

I also ask that you pray for my family, for their safety and health, and strength for David till I get back. that they feel loved and cared for in my absence (you guys did such an awesome job last time) and that the kids see the Lord in this endeavor and that His purpose may prevail and that those who who don't have full understanding of what I am doing will truly see Him be glorified through this and that through that they may grow in their faith.

I love you guys and thank you for being a part of my life.
With much love in the Lord
Jackie

Well, sorry for the long interruption and no new posts, have had a lot going on and I have been trying to pace my time between my responsibilities so I don't get burnt out.

22 days and counting down to Zim 2008!! very exciting especially with all that is going on there right now, I keep asking the Lord and making sure I am not jumping head on in something I have no business being a part of, but our Lord is so gracious and kind and I have truly felt his presence every step of the way, guiding and providing for all of our needs. When you go into a trip like this, the enemy just seems to kick up the warfare and we have been slammed pretty hard the past couple of months, but we held on tight and weathered the storm and came out very much strengthened in our faith and our realisation of our need for God in every detail of our lives.

AUTUMN is winding down her school year and finishing up 7th grade and we are looking forward to some wonderful time with her this summer, David always feels more complete when she is around. It's been really sweet I had kept a few of Autumn's dresses from when she was two and up, and now Abby is starting to wear them - I can't believe Autumn was so little, she is growing into a beautiful woman now.

DANIEL l is also winding down with school not long to go till the end of 1st grade, he is loosing teeth and finally getting used to the idea, the first few were very traumatic, but now he counts down the days till he can get his dollar for his next one. He has been doing scouts this year with a local homeschool pack and it has been so awesome - it has been his favorite thing all year, they just had there first big campout this past weekend.

TIMMY is gearing up for kindergarten, he is still my love bug and just loves to sit with me and soak up the attention (much like his father). Him and Daniel both have been playing soccer this spring and it is so sweet to watch how the 'pack' of kids chases the ball all over the field.

ABBY is growing like a weed - she used the potty for the first time last weekend which is always exciting - especially for me and David as we have officially been changing diapers non stop for over 7 years now!!! She is so sweet and just like her older sister is singing every song her little brain has heard, she likes to 'play' the guitar with David which is just precious and her vocabulary is quite amazing for her age.

Other than that Davids businness is picking up for the summer months, which is always a blessing as the winters get pretty lean up here, I am getting ready for my trip, collecting last minute items for the orphans - we had such a wonderful response at our church to people donating outfits and items for all the kids at the orphanage in Zim - I was quite overwhelmed with the response - the Lord truly does care about all the details of our lives and I am so excited to take everything over and give it to them, some have been orphans all their lives and probably never had anything new, so this is so big I can't wait.

We still continue with our Thursday night bible study at home with a group of friends from church, I have been doing an awesome bible study with some ladies from our church at another local church - called Stepping Up by Beth Moore and it has been so sweet to see how the Lord has met me every day and me through these past couple of months, David has jumped on board to and been doing some of it with me and wow we have truly been in the presence of our Lord!- how great is our God!

PRAYER REQUESTS

*Please be praying for our trip and for my last minute preparations as I get the kids organised with our various friends who are such a blessing in helping out again - Thank you all so much.

*Please pray for safety on our trip especially on the ground over there, for the elections to continue to be peaceable and for God to be so glorified the world will see Him through all that goes on there.

*Please also pray for our luggage to arrive safely and on time, so we can bless those we are going to minister to and meet their physical needs.

*Please pray for food for the people over there, for them to see Gods provision daily and for many to come to know Him through this trying time in their country.

*Please also pray for strength, endurance and health for all the members of our team andf or our individual gifts to shine through and be a blessing to those we come in contact with!

David and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this month - praise the Lord, I pray He continues to watch over us for many more.

Have a blessed day my friends!

Jackie

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Number 6:24-26

Tired friends - Cooper, Clay and Daniel Pizza Time!

Sweet little Abby waiting to blow her candles out!

Playing with her new 'bocks'

Dear Lord,

I'm here to love You, to obey you, to glorify You. O my Beloved may I be a joy to You!

Today is my sweet little Abby's 2nd birthday - how privileged we are to be entrusted with the life of another - at times I am overwhelmed with the joy that my children bring me, but other times I am overwhelmed with how much heartache we can cause each other as human beings. In Zimbabwe I was in awe when we got to see giraffes - I had never before seen a real live one that close, they are so beautiful and statuesque, I almost expected Noah to be standing around the corner next to the ark! But how much more beautiful and worthy of our admiration is the one who created our children and all living things. Gods promises are always true, He never has and never will fail us or cause us heartache or dissapointment, when man seems to fail you, look to the One who will never fail you, who will never dissapoint you or let you down!

Aren't you grateful for the delight and privilege of praising our wonderful God, the most beautiful and generous and trustworthy of all beings!

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5