Bondage to Holiday Gift Giving

With our boys' birthday approaching in the next couple of months, gifts used to be such a stressor for most of our celebratory holidays, including their birthday.  But ever since we told them the truth about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy, these gift giving holidays have become so much more meaningful. 

It truly hurts my heart when I see Easter and Christmas celebrated by trying to give our children the perfect gifts. I used to be one of those mommas who worried with finding just right thing that would make my children happy on these mornings. I also worried about having just the right outfits for our Sunday church attendance. You know, it was just thing to do. It's what is expected, right?

That perfection I was seeking drained all the joy and reason to celebrate. I was too consumed with having just the right gifts that I failed to recognize that the perfect gift had already been given...the birth of Christ, and the salvation from eternal damnation through his death and resurrection. seriously y'all, I worried that the baskets didn't have enough to impress or satisfy my children's wants. I worried that Christmas morning would be an epic fail if I didn't have the right gifts or enough gifts. I worried that we wouldn't look the part unless we all had new "Easter" clothes. My worry to have it just right prevented me from the freedom of worship and celebration. And isn't celebration the reason we worship, the reason we acknowledge Christmas and Easter? If we are truly the Christ followers we say we are, then striving for a perfection that is measured only by worldly standards to fulfill worldly expectations isn't freedom nor is it God's will. Those expectations are distractions from Satan and when we've heeded them, he's won.

Up until a few years ago, I let Satan win. I chose bondage every time I strived for worldly perfection. But, y'all, there's a sweet freedom when you finally break free from it and begin to celebrate the real meaning of Christ's birth and the real meaning of Resurrection Day.

I no longer worry about the perfect gifts or the perfect clothes. Instead, I try to teach my children and let Christ teach me that it's not about perfection or wrapped gifts or baskets. It's about us being imperfect but saved by the only perfect gift that has ever been and will ever be given. A gift so perfect that nothing on this earth will never match it.

Philippians 4:13 attitude

One of the most common reasons parents will not consider homeschooling is because they don't think they have the ability or patience to do it. Let me make this clear, neither are prerequisites to homeschooling. For those who are believers in Christ, we know he provides our ability. I have to rely on his promise. Those of us reared in church learn at a very young age, a common Bible verse..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." My ability to homeschool is daily proof of this verse. I put this verse to use daily and as a believer, why wouldn't I? As a Christian, we believe it, right? Then why do we not trust it?

Homeschooling isn't without its struggles. But having been on both sides, I would rather the struggles at home than my child struggling alone at school. I've been there with my child struggling at school. He was pretty much alone, not bc teachers didn't care, but bc the nature of institutionalized education. Teachers can't possibly give the attention each child needs nor can the system give the time each child needs, especially those who struggle. We are living proof that the struggles at home are far less than what we dealt with at an institutional school setting. And we are living proof that Christ does strengthen us so that we may succeed at the things that seem impossible.

It's a Matter of Lack of Morals, not Lack of Religion

It's not about a lack of religion. It's about a lack of morals.

I haven't spoken out as much lately regarding politics and such as I have in the past. It's not because I've lost interest but rather because I'm still processing much of it.

I'm terribly discouraged by our options for president as it stands now. And surprisingly to some, my issue with the claimed conservative nominee isn't his lack of religion. It's his lack of morals. You don't have to be religious or specifically Christian to be a moral person. And the opposite stands true, not all "religious" claiming folk have morals, either.

I've heard and read the argument of not voting is a vote for the other. This theory stands true for both candidates.

From my perspective, both candidates are equally immoral in their personal life as well as their professional life. This immortality will and has infiltrated their political career.

Another aspect I have noticed, patriotism is quickly and increasingly growing to be a major national religion. Voting or not voting does not determine one's eternal destination. Now it certainly may help one get there quicker than planned depending on the future circumstances of the one voted into office but voting itself does not determine your eternal life. This does NOT mean I encourage others to not vote. Voting, a treasured freedom we have, is a personal matter, although, I abhor the attitude of not voting strictly bc of apathy.

So, to those who attack others or me for even considering the possibility that we might not vote for a president this go around bc it would be a vote for Hillary, while in earthly theory you may be right, but I'm not accountable to do what is right by my country, I'm accountable to what is right by my God. What you choose to do is respectfully your choosing, now please allow others the same respect.

The 10 Pee-mandments

I think it's time for an exorcism on our little Dixie dog.  She peed on the boys' Ten Commandment project. 

Hours of Love

"And in case you’ve never done the math for how much time you will gain with your children by teaching them at home, I have some encouraging stats for you. If you spent an average of 4 hours a day teaching one child for 180 school days, you will have spent 720 hours with them! (Let’s round that to 1,000 hours a year to account for time spent in the car getting to practices and co-op!) And, if you homeschool one child from Kindergarten through 12th grade at 720 hours per year..., you will invest 9,760 hours into their lives! (Let’s round that to 10,000 hours.) Did you get that? You are investing at least a thousand hours a year into your children’s lives by teaching them at home. If you teach them all they way through their school years, you’ll get about ten-thousand hours. (Imagine the possibilities!)

So my friends, while there may be days that homeschooling gives you a headache (because you are spending time with your busy, bouncy kids), think about the impact you can have in the life of your child with thousands of extra hours of “love.” Pour it out friends. Pour it out!" -Linda Habor

Our All-Star 2016

We are excited to be apart of the Clinton All Star team, again, this year.  Brother C worked hard during the recreation season as his team's primary pitcher which awarded him a spot on the All Star team.  We were part of this team last year and had a wonderful experience.  The talent, the parents and the coaches were like none we had ever played with.  We couldn't have had a better experience and are truly excited about this year's experiences.

Our boys finished their recreation season last Thursday and played their first tournament the immediate weekend following without any practices as a new team.  We played against teams who have been playing together for the past year or longer. We went in as underdogs and finished as CHAMPS! We beat out 11 other teams.  More importantly than their show of talent was their show of team spirit and sportsmanship.  They all played with heart and determination coming from behind to win the games they needed to advance and coming from behind to win the championship. 

Trying not to Cry over Spilled Milk

While I was in the shower, my boys spilled my coffee drink that was sitting on a table. How did I know this?

Me: "Boys, what happened here on the table? It's a sticky, streaky, disaster. What did y'all do?"
"Oh, we spilled your drink and cleaned it up."

Me: "what did you use to clean it up? It's still sticky."

"A mop."

Me: "A mop? What do you mean a mop?"

"We just mopped the whole table instead of using a rag."

You may or may not want to eat on our table if you should visit.