1st sled action for this winter

I was hoping I'd get some good video today.
This is fun, a little more than 2 minutes long.
Enjoy!!

snowy saturday

Trying to give Ta a day off today.
there's 2 inches of fresh snow on the ground, so were going to try some sledding today.
Hopefully i'll get some video to share :)
Between chores, Isaac plays we three kings on the piano -
Layne-o

Swim away and pray!

God has been teaching me a helpful parenting strategy. A good friend and I are trying to keep one another accountable in parenting and training in love and gentleness. I often feel very short tempered, anxious and quick to get angry with my kids. I wonder if I can possibly endure one more little person saying, "MOMMA". Even if my words are calm( which they are not always) there can be this underlying tone of feeling annoyed. My kids pick up on this very quickly. I see them copying me and treating each other in ways that make me realize they are like little sponges soaking up my bad habits.

The Christian adoption counselor we are seeing, gave us this example to help kids deal with anger. (I am applying it to myself, too) Think of little fish in a swimming area of a lake. When you reach down to catch one they swim away, they don't reach out and attack you. So, when you feel upset, annoyed, angry.........just swim away and pray.

I have added to this some advice from a friend. I have begun an anger management basket. In this basket I have a journal of verses and quotes that I go to when I am "swimming away". My sweet sister just gave me a gift from a conference she attended. It is a kneeling pad with a bible verse on it that is for praying on your knees. It is a tangible reminder to me to pray even if I don't always get down on my knees. I usually try and go to this spot in our bedroom and begin by taking a few deep breaths to lower my heart rate! Ha! I start to read Bible verses in my journal pertaining to anger, parenting, graciousness.......etc... and then I pray. Most days I am pleading with the Lord to take away my anger and give me the ability to love my children (when they don't seem so lovable) with Christ's love. Here are some of the verses in my journal so far. I hope to keep an on going collection.

Galatians 6:1 " Brothers, if anyone is caught in any spiritual transgression you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself lest you too be tempted."

Here is a quote by Matthew Henry about this verse, "Many needful reproofs lose their efficacy by being given in wrath; but when they are managed with calmness and tenderness, and appear to proceed from sincere affection and concern for the welfare of those whom they are given, they are likely to make a due impression."

Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Lord, I cannot be this type person on my own strength. I need your grace so often in a day. Please help me to come to you when I am struggling rather than try to "pull up my boot straps" and take care of things on my own. You are so loving to give us your word, the Bible, to help us fight against our self- centeredness. Your refinement is a gift of grace!

Kaylee and Erin Playdate

Kaylee and Erin had their first violin playdate.
The video is a bit long, but it's fun to listen to.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Our alarm was set this morning to a talk radio program. This was not my idea of waking up peacefully. The program was talking about our country's current economic crisis. This sent my mind a whirling. I began worrying about money, tax increases, food prices, mortgage rates......I began to wonder how we would make any more cuts in our budget. We have cut back so much since I am not working outside the home. I began to wonder what it would be like if I needed to go back to work. Then my mind spun into thoughts of my crazy busy day. I couldn't even remember all that I had to keep track of. Today was a home school day, a Levi preschool day, a violin lesson day for now TWO children, Isaac was having a friend from Clark over after school was done, dinner, laundry, Kaylee was taking ITBS tests at Clark in the am and I had to get her there and I had a sitter coming in the morning to play with the little ones so I could teach school.

I began fretting about the day and actually had a racing heart thinking about it..........Ugh......... Anyway I almost set aside my Bible thinking I would read it later (yeah right) but God in His graciousness prompted me to take time out and breath in His words. I opened to this verse. What spoke to me was the reminder to keep my day focused on the true TREASURE in heaven, Christ! I was sinking into a frenzy of worry and anxiousness. It is easy for me to get caught up in the things of this world and forget how very short my life actually is. What am I doing with my days? Sometimes I feel that I am on this roller coaster called "life" and it is just whizzing by.

Dear Lord, help me to trust you and to set my eyes upon YOU. This life on earth is so short. Help me not to worry about worldly things that pass away, or can be taken away. As a mom with little ones in the house, help me to center my days on seeking you for strength, wisdom, patience and love so that my little ones and the ones who know me may feel your love. Help my life to be a sweet aroma that points to the HOPE you give through Christ Jesus.

Our new violin student

Erin had her first violin lesson today. She has been asking since this summer when she could play violin like her big sister Kaylee. Kaylee started playing violin at four years old and I vowed never to start a child of mine that young again because selfishly it was just so much work as the parent to keep up with all the Suzuki method wanted you to do "alongside" your child.

Well, here I am again tracing footprints for proper foot positioning and jotting notes on what to work on for the next week. Erin was persistent in asking to play and God worked on my heart to make this commitment again. She was elated to start her lessons to say the least. I am thankful she will also have a very helpful big sister to practice with on the days mommy just can't keep it all together!

ramp it up.

I took a goofy little video when the kids had friends over to play.
They love this ramp in our front yard with their bikes.