Merry Christmas

Living Titus 2:5

"... to be busy at home....so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:5

The word is pretty clear that being at home is not a vacation but a very busy and productive job.

"She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet." Proverbs 31:14-21

A simple list would read like this "She goes grocery shopping,feeds everyone, buys real estate, gardens, works with her hands, sells items from her home, works late into the night clothes her family and extends help to the poor." That's a lot to accomplish but with some organization we can accomplish more and more each day, week & year!

I personally  am excited about giving myself the gift of organization!

The most complete planner I've run across. Since it's arrival I've been busily adding all the information to it I will need in the year to come. To order Guiding the House for yourself  or to see more sample pages you may go here. To see a review of this book  you may go here to Home Joys.

 

May God Bless you too as  you seek to bring peace to your home too!

Mrs. M

Book Review: Mastering Motherhood .... a contemplation

This is not a book for everyone, this is written from a very conservative Bible believing perspective. But this, short to the point book, is full of conviction and has been a blessing to me personally. 

"A woman whose home is obviously out of control has been shirking her responsibilities for a very long time. She is not doing her housework "as unto the Lord." Her family, her friends who visit, her Lord and her self-esteem deserve better than sh is giving. She is letting other activities or idleness keep her from being the kind of homemaker God admires in Proverbs 31." pa 106

I have really been challenged by a couple of books that I've read to give my life fully to the cross. That I am often distracted from the things the Lord has laid before me by social media, internet, blogs, books etc... the funny thing is many of these are 'worthy distractions' which tend to be about how to be a better mother, homemaker, homesteader etc.. *sigh* 

My home isn't out of control but it's not where I know the Lord would have it. How could it be with my constant chatter on Facebook, checking e-mail, texting and flitting from this blog to that just to check on it and 1,2,3 hours later I have failed to accomplish the things the Lord had laid before me.  Over the last couple of weeks I have been slowly returning to our routine, and I'm going to have to fast or close my Facebook account. 

I truly feel called to blog in a Titus 2 style, however, that too has been neglected because I have been so pressed for time. All I've been able to manage is Weekly Wrap Ups and Pretty Happy Funny Real two link-ups I love. But still I'm just throwing my posts together instead of giving them careful thought and prayer. What happened to my time for the most part the time was being wasted fostering 'cyber relationships' instead of guiding, growing & loving the real ones right here in my midst. 

I think I may blog through this book as it's been such a blessing to me not just the kick in the pants for housework but a change in mindset. Perhaps you'd like to join me?

May the Lord Turn His Face Toward You!
Mrs. M

Weekly Wrap Up: Saying Goodbye

In our homeschool this week…

Homeschool was a convenient distraction for me this week.

 In my life this week… I am saying "goodbye"

Our heart is for adoption and we have been foster a little fellow since August. Well on Monday the judge ruled he was to be placed with his grandmother. 

When you foster/adopt this is always a possibility. It's something to keep in mind, and now it's very real. It is my belief that God is in control and that the has a reason for all things. I do not want to be left to my own foolishness,  by not abiding in the King, instead I want to follow his lead. I want to want only the things that he has for me.

Our life has been like a ping pong ball lately first, the little one was set to go to an uncle, then he was staying with us and now he is going to his Grandmother. I meet his grandmother at meeting and she seems normal, I wonder why they didn't place him with her in the first place. Still I know God had things to work out in me, and ugly things. Things that have come to the light and are curled up in the corner growling.  I am so grateful that my God is full of grace for me. 

"To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the fellowship^[a] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;^[b] 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenlyplaces," Ephesians 3:8-10

 It has been a rough ride for me, for us. We are rejoicing for this family, this is a good thing. A family has been reunited, even though our family is not. 

 Well, this week is not complete as I write this post so I do not know how I will feel. I am normally very reserved about everything until it actually happens. It's when I am in the middle of the situation that my emotions arise. I have not yet shed a tear but I have packed up most of stuff into a diaper box. I always do what needs to be done.

 For now I will  look long into his big eyes. Admire his little chubby legs that were so skinny. His little chubby hands that were so small. I'll watch him toddle, he's almost walking well you know. Yet, now he going to be toddling away from us.

I really feel poorly for my kiddos and I wonder if we as a family will go through this again, if the Lord has this for our family again. How will we explain this to the two year old twins, and protect their security. This reminds me of the importance of the children's salvation because our security is truly in Christ! 

Frankly, I am afraid of the pain that has not yet arrived and that will flood through my body as I watch him drive away. 

 I’m praying for…
My Kiddos

I am thankful for...
Christmas coming because there is so much to distract me during this busy season.

To see what other homeschoolers are up to around the web go to ...Homeschool Mother's Journal or Weekly Wrap Up

{Pretty,Happy,Funny, Real}

{Pretty?}

More like "pretty awesome" (sorry I am originally a valley girl from California :D) because we are celebrating the advent season for the first time with an advent wreath. I have wanted to do this for about 10 years, I guess I'm a little slow. But this year the Lord prompted me and we got the makings for our wreath in November. And we found a website with instructions on how to use the wreath in celebrating Christ's birth and drawing our eye to our Lord Jesus! 

{Happy}

A couple of years ago we got this nativity scene for the children to play with during Christmas. It sits on our fireplace and they act out he birth of Jesus continually. This is the first year the twins have played with it and it didn't involve trying to bite off baby Jesus' head. *smile* I'ts simply a blessing to see them learning more about their faith and it is our hope that one day we will have no greater joy then to know that our children are walking in the truth!

{Funny} 

Any time this girl sees a Chikfila we all hear about it..."Ik-fill-AAA" is heard from the back of the van from the moment she sees it until it is long gone. So she was super excited when we went on kids night!

{Real} 

My dear husband checking on the chickens in the middle of the night because he sweet and adoring wife heard a noise. So on the left side of the picture is a very good husband with a .22 rifle in case there was a hungry or angry racoon. 

Well to see more Pretty, Happy,Funny & Real things head on over to Like Mother, Like Daughter's Blog Hop!

Meal Plan Monday: Big Family Menu Link Up

Our goals are that that we have more then enough food for everyone, that the food served is both frugal & tasty. Finally, we do not want to let any left overs go to waste, so I like to recreate them into new dinners, like tostadas! 

• Monday: Turkey w/ Cheese Melt with fruit salad
• Tuesday: Spaghetti with peas garlic bread
• Wednesday: Beans, Rice & homemade cornbread
• Thursday: Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, peas and homemade rolls
• Friday: Duggar Tatter Tot Casserole, peas and homemade rolls
• Saturday: Tostada with Rice & corn 

Hoping the Lord Blesses your meal preparation this week!

Celebrating the Advent Season

"Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7 

So this year as we are rapidly approaching the advent season I just wanted to share what our family is doing this year. First let me start off by saying we have not been the best at celebrating the Advent season I am however very hopeful that we are turning a new corner and becoming more consistent.  So this year we are doing two things that I think will be both simple and meaningful and point our hearts and minds toward the savior during the advent season. I think that the advent season is an amazing opportunity to to teach our children some truths about Jesus when their sweet hearts are more open.  It’s also a time for our entire family to slow down and to bath in the everlasting light of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make the season itself memorable, holy and special. When our kids look back at Christmas I’d like them to remember that Jesus is the light of the world.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

We are going to do advent wreath. We have never done an advent wreath before.  So I went to Wal-Mart and we purchased the tapered candles (.75 each), candle holders ($2.50*5) , pine wreath ($2.50). I went to this site(This is a Catholic site, so once you print it out you’ll need to read it carefully and cross out anything your faith doesn’t agree with  and perhaps add some stuff!  )

We also purchased Advent & Christmas from Doorposts (you can get it on your Kindle for $2.99!) . It is a Christmas Daily Devotional that also has a few activities and crafts that can also be done. You read some verses each day and then you read a small devotional. Again our goal is to joyfully keep our eyes on the Savior throughout the Christmas season.

May the Lord Bless you as you seek His face this Christmas and always!