Family Matters & Happy Spring!

As I'm writing this, I'm looking out my office window at GREEN GRASS (well, as green as is to be expected in March) and chirping birds at my feeder...mostly sparrows I believe, but I just saw a red cardinal and think I saw an interesting finch earlier today. For those of you familiar with Wisconsin weather, this is one step from Heaven! In fact, one of my favorite email forwards is the "You Know You Live In Wisconsin If"... like as soon as the temp goes above 40 deg, everyone is in t-shirts and flip-flops? :) Well, so far we haven't broken out the flops, but the girls have been sneaking their jackets off when playing hoops out in the driveway. Last week we had sun, which raised are tired, March spirits immensely. This whole week, however, has been cloudy, rainy, and dreary. But, still above 40, so I'll take it.

The pictures below spotlight another happiness in my life. My daughter, Alana, has always been a reader/book-lover like her mom. Never fighting me during reading time, and always reading before shutting off the light in bed. Erin, however, was a different story. Not interested. I've struggled to find a subject, author, or series to spark her interest, to no avail. Now, suddenly, it's taken root. Mostly, I think because she's sharing a room with her sister again, and thinks that reading might help her fall asleep.

Anyway, earlier this week, Erin got up early....a little after 7am, versus the usual 8am. I was sitting at the table doing my God Time/Study. She came up the stairs and stopped at the top to pet Zack. Then she spied the pile of books I had piled near the banister (I have books piled everywhere!) The next time I looked, there she was with a book open, reading on the top step, petting the cat. :) Joy.

I recently finished a book called Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense. I know why it makes sense for us, of course, but this author has a unique point of view...he's a public school teacher, and he and his wife homeschool their 5 sons. It was very interesting, giving a good history of public schooling...how it came about, why it's changed, and where it fails and succeeds. Here are just a few of the points I found thoughtful...

*the inherent rigidity of schools...children were not predisposed to long hours of physical inactivity

*schools were basically joyless institutions, serving an education almost entirely divorced from daily life

*In Massachusettes, the literacy rate was higher before compulsory education (possible 98%) than it would be any time after...due to being schooled or tutored at home

*the bureauocracy of the public schools was probably its biggest downfall...when the vision and control shifted from parents and communities to bureaucrats and "professionals"

*homes are no longer the "educational vacuum" they may have once been...we have internet, tv, books, libraries, globes, maps, magazines, homeschool curriculum, etc. Schools, to a certain extent, have become a waste of taxpayer dollars. Let parents teach...

*and finally, towards the end, this one really hit me hard. The author presents human beings (parents) as natural teachers of their young. And in most cultures, this education is reserved for the elders when they are no longer best suited to be out "doing," but have the knowledge and experience to pass on to the next generation. And since we have this "need & desire" to teach our children, a hole is created in our souls when we send the kids to school. He points out that parents quickly become selfish with their time and desires. How many times have you heard moms repeating all summer, "I can't wait for the kids to go back to school!" And we become totally focused on serving our own needs, seeing our kids as an intrusion on our time. This hit me very hard. Pre-homeschooling, I was an obsessed scrapbooker. That's what I did...that's who I was. I recently realized that I didn't NEED to do it daily...weekly...or even monthly, as I had to before. I don't normally feel the need to "get away from my kids." Could it be that my "teaching hole" has been filled now? Wow. He also mentions sports and dads. How many dads find that the only way they have to fill their need to teach is to teach junior how to throw a ball or swing a bat. This is where they bond. How true is that???

Anyway, the book did nothing to make me want to send my kids back to school. :) Family matters...and mine is home where I want them. :)

Have a blessed weekend!

By Grace Alone

Why a blurry school bus picture???

Well, you see, as a kid, whenever I'd stay home from school (due to sickness, or what my mom called much-needed "mental health days") I'd feel so guilty and regretful when that bus passed by. Was I really sick enough to be home? What was I missing? How far behind would I be? And then in high school, add to that guilt the pressure from missing basketball or volleyball practice. Seriously, people, I didn't even skip class in college! Once a geek always a geek, I guess. But I digress.

I became a mom. And all too soon I was putting my first little girl on that bus. And I cried. Then pretty soon, there were two on the bus. It took me 4 1/2 years of kids on the bus for me to finally have the courage to bring them home (for reasons that I won't get into now). But as I'd watch that bus go by each morning, I'd wonder, was I making the right decision? Would I ruin my kids? It was the same old guilt...the same fear I'd end up regretting this decision.

I still have days of questioning. But now, each day, as I sit over my Bible in the quiet before the kids awake, I thank God that my girls are NOT on that bus. They are home with me...where they belong. Where God has called me to keep them. And I am thankful. And humbled...that He has entrusted me with these precious lives.

And then the precious ones awake, and before long I'm wishing I would have put them on the bus. I might even threaten to put them on it tomorrow! :) Some days are bad days. Really bad. With the words from Ann at Holy Experience, whom I admire greatly,

"Raising your own flesh and blood is this exercise in seeing how dirty your flesh is and how dire you need the blood of Christ. "

It is by grace alone that I'm forgiven of my sins. My mistakes. And it is by His grace that I am entrusted with these precious souls, day after day. And it is by His grace that tomorrow I'll do better. It is through His grace that the bus goes by each morning, just to remind me...

A Case for Creation

It was early last week...Monday morning, I believe. As I sat with God, watching the world wake up, I witnessed the most beautiful thing. It was really foggy. And cold. And the combination created a white world...similar to a fresh snowfall, yet different. Individual frost flakes coated every surface. And the air was white with a frozen fog. It was, in a word, magnificent!

Then the girls woke up, breakfast had to be made...my day began and the spell was broken. I kicked myself all day for at least not trying to take pictures. Well, I got my chance the next morning...I was greeted with the same picture. So, as soon as I could, I trekked out into the yard and started clicking. However, there was so much light...so brilliantly white, that the pictures were all whited out. So, I wandered out for a second attempt. These were the pictures I got. Like most things in life, the copies don't do the justice to the original.

For many days after, I pondered the beauty I was blessed to witness on those early mornings. It felt like a personal showing of God's greatest art. Each night I thanked him for his creativity, and I couldn't help but think, yet again, how obvious the Creator is through His creation. How can people not see Him?

This made me think about beauty itself. I guess, if you really wanted to, you could make a case that "beauty" is really just a natural survival instinct. We are "attracted" to those of the opposite sex so that we are willing to propagate our species. We see "beauty" in a newborn babe so that we determine it necessary to care for the young until they are able to survive on their own. And, I guess, I case could be made for us seeing "beauty" in nature...as it would tell us "good place to make camp".

I finally determined that one could say that "beauty" is not art presented by a creative God, but just a perception on our part (dictated by the "big bang," I'm sure!) But there was an idea that could not be explained away. How are we moved to tears by words and music? What makes us see beauty in a grandparent interacting with a grandchild? An elderly couple sharing a smile and holding hands? The first words of a child? The miracle, I've decided, is not just what we see that He creates, but that we even see it...feel it. He gave us that gift. To see beauty. Wow. Can you imagine life without that?

Can a worm see beauty? Can a tree? Can an amoeba (that we apparently came from)? The ability to see and feel the beautiful. That's my case for creation.

Introducing Everett Allen

First, I must appologize for being awol for so long! I really don't know what my excuse is this time. Just busy, I guess. Between school, cooking, and cleaning...seriously, it really shouldn't keep me that busy, but it does. Anyway, we've begun the "we're really going to try to sell this house" cleaning again. But I'm serious this time. :)

On a much happier note, my sister finally had her baby. Last Thursday, January 28, Everett Allen Abrams entered the world at a whopping 11 lbs, 4 oz!!! (At least now we know what took so long!) You go girl! Everett was born at home, as was Avery and Easton, and everything went very smoothly. We visited on Friday, and let's just say, 11 lbs sounds much bigger on the phone than when he's in your arms (of course, we Videen girls don't mess around with those "average-sized" babies...we only produce 9+ pounders!) He sure still seemed tiny to me. And beautiful. And if I could just bottle up that baby smell...!!!

And this one's my favorite. I can totally see Grampa in this one!!!

As always, I have more to say...but, as always, I'm just too wiped to do it! :) Hopefully, I'll be back again tomorrow to bore you to tears. Until then, God bless, and have a fabulous end to your week!

Alone Time

My life just drove away in the truck. Any other mothers think of that when their hubby and kids drive away? That in a split second my life could be gone? I know it's not my place to worry about tomorrow... or even an hour from now. That belongs to the Lord. He giveth and He taketh away, and He will hold my hand through it all.

For those of you who don't homeschool, you may not be able to appreciate a day to one's self. I don't actually remember the last time we've been apart for more than a couple of hours. Barry thinks their going to fish all day...like into the afternoon. I wish him luck. Ice fishing is boring. Especially for Alana. We were actually surpised she chose to go with.

And as usual, she got clingy with me before she left.

As she was hugging me on the stairs by the door, she said, "Mom, how come I spend half of my life trying to run away from you, and then when I have the opportunity, I don't want to leave you?" How very astute for my 10 year old dear girl. I told her that I felt the same way. And we bonded yet again.

I remind myself daily as I'm doing their laundry, washing their dishes, cooking their food, picking up their stuff...that even in my selfish irritation...I wouldn't want to spend my life doing anything else.

That said, I'm going to try now to enjoy the day alone....

Oh, Baby, Where Art Thou?

We're still waiting for baby. Do you like how I say "we" even though I'm not the one who's big as a house? :) My sis just had the thought the other day that maybe she's not as far along as they thought...but carrying twins. What a thought!

Contentment Catch Up

I promised an update yesterday....but I got too tired. Sorry. The girls and I went grocery shopping, which took WAY too long, and ended with Erin dropping to 40 in Walmart and speeding home to make dinner. Don't worry...I did treat her before we left the parking lot. Anyway, shopping totally exhausts me, and after my second day of no nap, writing was absolutely out of the question!

Now, after a day of cleaning, laundry, cooking, and looking up treatments for guinea pigs with bald spots, I think I'm ready to go!

Since my last "Contentment Catch-Up"...

The three barriers that keep us from experiencing contentment: greed, lack of purpose, and anxiety.

The greed part is pretty simple to figure out, and although I've never considered myself a materialistic person (in fact, I'm pretty darn cheap!) I know I've been convicted. Did you know that Scripture contains more references to money than to salvation?

Some key points...
*materialism has become a god in our country
*when we purchase more than we can afford, we are discontent with what God has given. We no longer trust that God knows best and that He will supply our needs.
*greed builds a barrier between us and God

And remember...
*"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:21)
*"No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money." (Matt 6:24)

Then we move on to not having a life purpose or focus. Not knowing why I'm here or where I'm going. Living without direction...living on hold, waiting for something or someone to give life meaning. We we live directionless, we are swiftly propelled by the winds of circumstances.

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." -Goethe

"For my determined purpose is that I may know Him - that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly." (Phil 3:10 AMP)

And then worry..."worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere."

*"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." - George Muller
*We commit sin when we worry because we are not trusting God
*So, faith is the foundation:
(I love this!) Faith raises us above our circumstances. Faith enables us to be content even when life doesn't make sense. Faith is the bulwark that keeps us strong even when we're assailed by agonizing thoughts about what might happen or by what has happened.
*Faith is walking in the dark with God, holding His hand.

Of course, there are a TON of Scripture references to having faith and trusting in God, and casting our worries on Him. But you get the idea.

Today we discussed the spiritual diseases of "What If" and "If Only". The first deals with the future and leads to anxiety (I suffer from this one daily...thanks, Glenn Beck!) and the second relates to the past and leads to anger. Here is a verse and a quote that sum these up...

"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord....Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord." (Jer 17:5&7)

"I am always content with that which happens, for I think that which God chooses is better than what I choose." -Epictetus


What makes this book extra meaningful is the personal stories and profiles she adds. Linda Dillow was a missionary, mostly, I believe in Eastern Europe (when communist) and China. The women's stories that she shares completely put me to shame...and help prepare for our possible future. She worked with women who had nothing...and risked that nothing, as well as their "freedom", safety, health, and life to serve Christ. What excuse do I have not to? And am I prepared to do the same if this country goes the same way?

The girls and I are currently reading "The Huguenot Garden" by Douglas Jones. If you're a Christian and have kids, this is a must-read! It is about a 17th century French Protestant family being persecuted by a Catholic king. It discusses faith, standing up for one's beliefs, and the role of government and religion. Awesome!!!!

We also talked about William Penn this week, and I'm reading a bit extra. I want to know more about the Quakers and how their beliefs jive with my own. He's one of the few famous men we've learned about that we had no problems with liking! :)

Well, I'll stop boring you now! Hope you all have a safe, fun and productive weekend! I'm hoping to get some creative juices flowing in my scraproom tomorrow (I've been in a dry spell here for a while). And who knows...maybe I'll become an auntie again this weekend!!!! :)