I’m Back!

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jacqui

I’ve been waiting to resume blogging until I had time for the perfect post. A post with beautiful words and beautiful pictures, but the reality is there’s not time for beautiful words and beautiful pictures.  So here’s an update on whats been going on over the last 9 weeks.

March 20-Accepted an offer for the sale of our house.

March 21 -became the mother to a beautiful baby girl, Leena Rose. Making me a mama to 5 blessings!

April 17- Closed on our home.

April 18-May 12 Packed my house

May 12-Moved in with Croix’s parents

May 17-Left for a horseback riding/camping vacation.

Today I am settled in at the in-laws,and feeling a sense of relief that all I have to do now is love on my babies and partner with Croix to make decisions on our new home.

The summer will be full of swimming, a little more traveling, and lots of choices. These things will be  nothing like the whirlwind that the last 9 weeks have given me.

So that’s life in a nutshell.

My  life in Christ is looking different these days. Wait, back up, my life in Christ is the same, but the disciplines of my Christian walk are a bit different today than they were 3 months ago. After Leena arrived I couldn’t focus on anything but mothering my blessings.

Instead of letting Satan pour guilt on me for not being as diligent with my scripture reading  I’ve been blessed as  the Holy Spirit has gently ministered to me through the truths  that I already had stored in my heart.

If you are a mother stop beating yourself up for not having the over rated “quiet time.” If you have been reading long you absolutely know the value that I put on reading God’s word.  It’s the plumb line for my life and it’s created the core that my family is built on. I am afraid that so often we are taught this “quiet time” is such a thing that the “good” Christian does that we actually miss the constant communion that our Savior wants to have with us.

During these last 9 weeks I have experienced some sweet moments with my Jesus, and they weren’t at 5:30 in the morning when I was having my “quiet time.”  My relationship with the Lord is always, it’s a presence, it’s me being in a state of conversation with Christ all of the time.

It’s the snippets of the scriptures that I chew on and meditate on these days.  My children and I are working on a passage of memorization from Ephesians. We work on this at lunch around the meal table.  It’s loud and messy, but my 11,7, and almost 4 year old are learning the word of God right alongside their mama.  The toddler in the high  chair and he listens, and the newborn nurses and this is my “quiet time.” This is the time that I spend in the word with my Savior.

Life is busy, it’s full of blessing who need their mama.  They take all I have to give and then ask for more.  Kind of like my Savior.  He takes all that I think I can give and then He asks for more.

So tell me what you’ve been up to these last 9 weeks. I’ve missed chatting with you. Don’t be bashful. Fill me in the comments section.

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The Importance of Home

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Jacqui

“There needs to be a homemaker exercising some measure of skill, imagination, creativity, and desire to fulfill needs and give pleasure to others in the family.  How precious a thing is the human family-does anything come forth without work? The family is an art form. ” Edith Schafer

Five years ago I wouldn’t have given this quote a second thought. It meant nothing to me.  I didn’t consider myself a homemaker and didn’t see much value in the role.

For 3 years now my main role has been homemaker. Mothering my children, home educating and discipling them.  This role also encompasses supporting my husband in his role as head of our home, small business owner, and minister to students.

It takes skill & creativity to balancing all that I have been blessed with. My former career taught me so much about time and priority management. I have used much of what I learned as a sales director in Mary Kay, to manage a successful home.

The quote specifically spoke to me in a variety of areas.

Imagination is not something that has ever come naturally for me.  My mother says she doesn’t remember me pretending much when I was a child. I made a decision to foster imagination in my own children.  I have observed my children pretending and imagining on countless occasions.  I fostered this by giving my children creative costumes, building forts, interesting tools and paraphernalia to play with, and simply just making sure they have plenty of time for play.  I think unstructured play has become a lost art.  My 11 year old daughter can still be found playing and pretending with her younger brothers. My children not only use their imaginations through play but through creating as well.  My younger children love play dough and large blocks.  My oldest son is a master with Legos.  He creates things I would never think of.  He is also drawn to colored pencils and sketch pads. He enjoys sketching things he sees in nature.  Finally, my oldest daughter uses her imagination with water color paints, as well as photography and scrapbooking.  All of these artistic mediums take imagination and creativity.

I have the desire to fulfill the needs of my family and bring them pleasure.  I know my spouse’s love language.  I know how to meet his needs in many areas. We’ve been married 14 years.  After 14 years you really know someone, especially if you have purposed to know that someone.  I want him to enjoy home so much that he would rather be here than anywhere else. It takes work to make our home environment a place that he craves. I want him to long for the home, but more importantly for the people who live within the walls.

All of this takes work. Day in and day out, meeting the needs of my family, takes much effort and energy.  It is a more challenging task than any stress that I ever faced while building my full time career.  Yet, I am living out the most fulfilling career of my life so far.

Five years ago the above quote meant nothing, today it means everything.

Does the above quote stir up anything in you? Do you feel as if you too are living this out as I am? Do you wish your situation was different so that you could focus on homemaking? Share your thoughts.  I would love to chat about this topic.

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Duty or Delight-Stop 4

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Jacqui

Knowing God Has Supplied Us

Confidence Booster

I AM SUPPLIED

Scripture Premise:

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  Ephesians 1:17-18
I worked on this  week of study last weekend while I was in the hospital, and a little more this week.  I found myself more distracted with this stop than I had been with the others, but since I have just birthed a baby I think I had true cause to be distracted. :)

On page 84 we get an understanding as to how to answer the question: How do we trigger more of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives?  We read a 6 point check list.

1) Rely on His leadership.

2) Yield to His pruning.

3) Regularly practice repentance.

4) Inspect your crops often.

5) Set yourself apart.

6) Do not give up.

What areas were you most convicted this week or what areas do you think the Lord was really trying to get your attention?

As I read back through my notes on each section,  I found that the section on Pruning was marked up quite a bit.  I liked what Tammie wrote on page 90.

“Pruning narrows our focus and strengthens the quality of our fruit.  It trains and maintains us by breaking our rebellion, insensitivity, and ever so independent spirits. ”

Later she points out, “Pruning weans us from distractions, time wasters, addictions, and selfish habits. In pruning, God insists on us having more of Him.”

I can think of so many times that God had to prune me in order for me to set up and pay attention to what He wanted from me.  Pruning was the only way I was going to become more like Him. That’s really the only thing he wants from me….to be more like Him.

We are reminded during Stop 4 that we never have to worry about where we stand with God.  We are secured for all eternity. We have safety and certainty.  The Lord is never “over” us!

Are you getting the idea that transformation isn’t really up to what you physically do for the Lord?  Transformation happens from the inside out when your spirit is willing to bow down and worship the Savior of the world. Metamorphosis takes place when you surrender your own desires for the desire of the one who has saved your life from an eternity in hell.  This changing isn’t something you have to work up.

Is this a new thought for you?  Have you found yourself in the position that you are always striving, trying harder to do things right, keeping a check list of the “right” Christian things to do that will make you more holy?  Are you willing to share with the other readers how God is speaking to you about this check list and “do, do , do” mentality?

This is all I have the brain power or time for  this week. I know you gained much more than I shared here.  If you are participating in the study I would love to hear how God spoke to you about how He Has Supplied! Even though we don’t meet on a weekly basis this is our slice of the cyber world in which we can encourage and voice how God is revealing himself to us through His word and this study. I would be blessed to read your comments this week on Stop 4 or any thoughts you may have about any of the other stops we have made.

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Nature Fun at a State Park

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Jacqui

We participated in our first naturalist led nature program for the year at O’Bannon Woods State Park. This event took place on a gorgeous sunny day in March.  We learned about the life and habitats of insects in winter.  This was a hands-on day. I’ve included a few pictures with captions so you can see what science lessons look like for a homeschooling family like mine. :)

There was a tree that had fallen over with the underside exposed. Each child received a plate full of dirt from underneath and inside the tree. They looked through the dirt in search for insects that had been residing their during winter. They used magnifying glasses and my boys thought that was the coolest. :)

 

This was a dead tree in which they were allowed to use tools to lift the bark and look for signs of insect life. Some eggs were found either on this tree or in the area around it.

 

Insect eggs!

 

Nature Study Buddies!

Nature Study Buddies!

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