Quote

This is from the Clarkson's, Educating the WholeHearted Child:

"Regardless of the circumstances you face, you have the ability to remain faithful to God. In the end, the measure of your success in homeschooling will not be how well your children perform on achievement tests, but how faithful you have been to trust God for his grace and strength in the process of discipling and educating them. Be faithful."

I found this quote a helpful reminder of what is really important. Not the outcome but the process of being faithful to God. It is not just applicable to homeschooling but to all of parenting (and life). I could easily change this quote to say:

In the end, the measure of your success in mothering will not be how well your children sleep through the night, but how faithful you have been to trust God for his grace and strength through those sleepless nights.

or

In the end, the measure of your success in mothering will not be how well your children obey your first command, but how faithful you have been to trust God for his grace and strength in training and disciplining them.

Bella

I wanted to recommend the movie Bella to anyonen who reads this blog. Erik & I were able to see it in the theater several months ago. It is an excellent film. It recently came out on DVD and I'm looking forward to watching it again. If you have an open evening please rent it.

Jotham James

Jotham is blessed to share a birthday with Erik's Dad (James). Yesterday we celebrated their birthdays with a family picnic. Erik wrote the following poem to honor them:

JOTHAM JAMES

From Jotham to James 60 years span
Clear similarities and differences in each man

Though one is still a sapling while another a tree
Both lives are fruitful

Though one laughs at the other
Both love humor

Though one likes running while the other likes walking
Both enjoy the outside

Though the cost differs greatly
Both cherish their toy cars

Though one shares a cookie while another shares the “dough”
Both are generous

Though one cries tears instantly and one holds them back
Both are very sensitive

Though one life rises and one is setting
Both are beautiful

Though one is my Son and the other my Father
Both are loved very much

60 years separate you and P-paw
With me in the middle
There is no greater place for me to be
With my Son & My Dad
Happy Birthday

Wings of Fancy

This past weekend my Mom & Dad came to visit. My Dad worked hard helping us with our deck and my Mom and I went to Brookside Garden to their Wings of Fancy exhibit. This is a live butterfly exhibit where you go into a large greenhouse and there are butterflies flying all over. My mom LOVES butterflies and has never been to an exhibit like this. She loved it. Karis & Jotham also enjoyed it, through Jotham got scared whenever the butterflies flew near him. I think of all our children, Mercia liked it best of all. She seemed fascinated by these beautiful creatures that were all around her. They seemed to like her as well. She must have been the perfect height for landing on. They were often taking short rides on her wispy hair.

After walking through the exhibit we took a stroll around Brookside, which is really lovely this time of year. The weather was beautiful and the kids enjoyed roaming around, chasing geese, falling down scraping their knees and in general just being with their grandma.

Jotham & Cia taking a walk at Brookside:

My How They Grow

A few weeks ago we went to the zoo. For the last few years I have been taking Karis' picture at the same spot. It is fun to compare her physical growth from year to year.

Achy, Breaky, Collar Bone

We had our first family break. On Friday, Jotham and Karis were playing on the stairs foolishly with some pulling and pushing and Jotham took a tumble down, landed on his shoulder and broke his collar bone. When it seemed like he was really hurt I called Erik and he came home. Our dear friend Travis happened to be working from home so he came over and stayed with Cia & Karis who were napping while we took him to the ER. They took an x-ray and saw that the bone was snapped in two (not even touching anymore), they gave us a sling and some codeine and sent us home. They don't actually do much for collar bones. He is doing well, as long as he has the meds in him and he does move around too much he is good. If you think to pray for him that would be great.

The whole experience was a good one for our little family. It is helping Erik & I grow in tenderness toward our boy and Karis has learned a little bit more about grace through Jotham's joyful forgiveness of her. And Jotham even got a bit protective of Cia when she was near the stairs. This is just another testimony to us that God works all things for the good of those who love him.

A Call to Suffer

I recently listened to this excellent message by John Piper. It was given several years ago at his church on mother's day. I can often, in the midst of my sinful attitude, think that I am suffering as I "endure" hard days (please forgive my complaining- but that is what is often in my heart). Today, as I think of the many excellent mothers I know I am struck by another class of mothers all together and at awe at the way God works in their lives. There is Helen, whose husband is having his third surgery to remove a brain tumor, while she suffers through a difficult pregnancy (for the sixth time) and whose rock solid love for the Savior deepens her desire to worship him through this trial. There is Kriscinda, who lost her precious Micah here on earth only find a deeper love for the Savior. There is Kelly, whose faith and joy amidst what seems like a mystery of medical problems in her little girls can only be from God. There is Jen, who joyfully and serves her family of 6 through the cancer her littlest is now battling.

These ladies show a deeper reality of the gospel and the call that God has placed on our lives to suffer. Though I weep for their suffering I am glad to be able to witness the work of our awesome God in their lives.

Girlie Time

Last weekend Erik went away with some friends for a "Game Retreat." I know it was a blessing for him as he LOVES to play games and since I'm not exactly the Home Run Derby, Obstacle Course, Risk playing type of wife I am glad he was able to go. While he was away, I thought it would a good opportunity to visit my family in NJ, which is where I am from.

When I made plans to visit my sister in law, Linda, suggested we take Karis & Hannah, my niece, to the American Girl Place in NYC. A few years ago Linda (& Josh, my brother) got Karis, Kirsten, the 1854 Prairie American Girl and Karis just loves her. She plays with her all time so I knew she would LOVE to visit the American Girl Place. And love it she did! I said to Linda at one point, "We don't get out much." Karis was nearly screaming in excitement over the Bitty Babies and all the dolls dressed up in different outfits. We had lunch in the cafe, where they have a special seat for your doll and they give her a cup and a plate. We went through every level of the store several times and the dolls even got their hair done at the doll hair salon. All of this was compliments of my incredibly generous parents. The only really bad part of the day was that my Mom was supposed to come but wound up being too sick that day. Mom, I wish you could have been there; it would have made it all the more special.

Karis & Kirsten

Linda & Hannah

Linda- I love being able to spend time with you. Thanks for thinking of this and making it such a special time for Karis. She loves spending time with you and Hannah.

On a humorous note, Mercia decided that she wanted to have her own "Game Night." On the morning of our outing, I found her crib covered in Monopoly money. There was a box of Monopoly near her bed and she pulled in all the money and probably slept on it that night.

Thank you Granddad for babysitting Jotham and Cia that day. It was a special time with Karis that I won't forget.