Profits of Silver: A Fools Ramblings

"No one goes to church more than the devil does..."

2011-10-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: Keep A Quiet Heart
Scripture Reference:

Spiritual Opposition
When Lars and I returned from a fortnight in Scotland and England there was the expected pile-up of work awaiting us, and the usual temptation to feel overwhelmed by it. The suitcase had to be unpacked, clothes washed, mail opened, read, and answered. The house had been partially cleaned by the student who lives with us, but upstairs I had to deal with the dust. There were phone messages waiting, and phone calls we needed to make to family members. Do you know the feeling of utter inadequacy to cope? I'm sure you do. But I believe the enemy of our souls is specially alert at such times, seeking to use them to turn us in on ourselves rather than upwards to the One who stands ready to be our Refuge and Helper.
Laying all the work before the Lord on the first morning after our return, I asked for His help to do it faithfully, carefully, and in an orderly way. I believe He answered that prayer--I'm sure He did. Everything that had to be done in those first three days was done, and I couldn't possibly have done it on my own. Then there was the lovely respite of Sunday, with time to read and think. I looked forward to tackling Monday's work (radio talks, scheduling of speaking) at a clean desk.
Monday came. The day was committed to God as always. But I felt like the wheels of the Egyptian chariots which "drave heavily." There were interruptions, distractions. I could not get on as expected. My mind was dull, confused. At the end of the day I could not see what I had done with my time.
Tuesday was a continuation of the day before. Where had those hours gone? I took my usual walk after lunch around Ocean Drive--a cloudless sky, a glittering sea. I walked alone, talking to God about my failures, asking Him to clarify things. When I got back home, such an unexpected source of help came to hand--a letter written to my father thirty years ago by an old missionary. Things were not going well at that time with the paper, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES, of which my father was editor, and he was on the verge of what was then called a nervous breakdown. He had asked counsel of this old veteran, E.L. Langston, in Africa.
"The devil does not like that paper nor its articles, and is evidently attacking you in your inmost heart, not causing you to doubt so much as causing a spirit of discontent. Fortunately we both know that temptation is not sin, it is yielding to temptation that causes us to sin and I feel that you must count it joy that you are passing through these times of difficulty, for they are sure signs that the Lord is blessing you....
"There is another reason, I think, for the cause of the feeling within us. It comes from the flesh and self-introspection. It is good for us to look at self and know how loathsome it is, but with one look at self we must take ten looks at Christ....
"No one goes to church more than the devil does, and no one appears as an angel of light as he does. We are in the thick of facing powers of darkness who are determined to rob us of Him and rob God of us, and you and I, my brother, have just got to hope in Christ and rely on Him for His Spirit to direct our thoughts, our ways, and our works so that it is not us but Christ in us."
Wasn't it wonderful that that letter had been preserved so that I "chanced upon it" in the hour of my need? But that is so like the Lord, for it is through the tender austerity of our very troubles that the Son of Man comes knocking. In every event He seeks an entrance to my heart, yes, even in my most helpless, futile, fruitless moments. The very cracks and empty crannies of my life, my perplexities and hurts and botched-up jobs, He wants to fill with Himself, His joy, His life. The more unsatisfactory my "performance," the more He calls me to share His yoke. I should know by now that mine makes me tired and overburdened. He urges me to learn of Him: "I am gentle and humble in heart."

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle: Crafting Domes with Newspapers!

2011-09-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

What fun! Using old newspapers, we crafted a geodesic dome using the creative idea of one of our favorite magazines: Family Fun To see the directions simply click the link.
Here are some pics of James and my rendition of it:

It all started when this handsome guy turned seven. He mentioned he wanted to try out the geodome and James and I thought "Ding! What a great idea to surprise him with it the morning of his birthday!" So off we went...

You will need quite a bit of newspaper. We used 4 Sunday papers. Family Fun says use four full sheets of newspaper (the double page layouts take out the single page inserts) and lay them flat one on top of the other to create your newspaper rod. *Note: Just because we are cheap we did end up using half sheets which we stuck next to each other to create a full. We just made sure we had a full sheet for a base to make the rolling much easier.* Total rods needed will be 25 so you will need 100 sheets. We used a pen to start the rolling by placing it horizontally in one of the corners and rolling it up. Don't make your rod too tight or you won't be able to get your pen out!Tape the middle to keep the paper together.
Then we trimmed all the logs to 30" and stapled them together to form triangles. Make 5 triangles. Then staple the triangles together at their bottom corners like you see James doing here. (One up one down, etc) Pick up your row of triangles and staple the ends together so it forms a standing pentagon. Family Fun said to make the remaining rods into a star but we just went around and stapled them along the top then stapled them altogether in the middle to form the roof.

The kids enjoyed playing with it. I hope yours do too!!

Cling to the Cross

2011-09-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

It is well to remember, friends, that we live in an imperfect world. We are surrounded by cascades of imperfect people.
When darkness falls upon your shoulders and clutches it's spiny fingers around your warm beating heart, it seems the only thing to do, sometimes, is fight it. And so you do. Strong at first you fight refusing to be defeated. Sometimes you catch on early to what needs to be done. And you win. But sometimes it doesn't stop punching. You fight and you fight but the fists of your enemy keep flying. Bruised and broken, you fight until you just can't anymore. The comfort of a small corner calls to you and you climb into it. Tired. Worn out. Sleep depraved. Emotionally empty. But it doesn't stop. Soon the darkness blankets your cold toes but not in an effort to warm them. The hairs on your neck raise, your mouth cries out, "Please, I can't take it anymore!" Pain, like birth pangs, shoots out from every orfic of your body and it isn't listening to your cries. Soon that cold blanket stretches itself out and you find yourself crushed under the weight of it. Tight. Empty and black. Like cold concrete walls. It takes all your strength to raise your hands in an effort to block those walls from closing in giving you enough room to breathe.
Just breathe.
You are not alone. Come with me as I introduce you to a man who walked through great darkness. But he isn't Jesus. He's a lawyer. Wealthy I am sure who dabbles in real estate. A blessed man, married with five children. He knew darkness once. It loomed over his shoulder in the form of a large fire which consumed most of his real estate. Still dealing from the death of his son and now the consumption of his provisions he thought it best to spend time away with friends. Business which needed his attention came up and instead of canceling his vacation he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. He had every intention of following his family out to sea shortly but he was stopped short when terrible news in the form of a telegram was sent to him. Wrinkled and wrought with his tears it spoke only two words, "Saved Alone."
The ship carrying his family collided with another leaving 47 survivors. One of which was his wife. None of which were his four daughters. Pain greater than the pangs of birth knows no other like the death of a child, much less all of them. He left right away to comfort his grieving wife and on a ship over the very place of this tragic accident he penned this breathtaking hymn:

Imperfection is a weak wall with cracks big enough for sin and evil to seep in. Only the enemy will lead you to believe a Perfect God, The Strong Wall, is to blame for it... because he doesn't want you to know He is your relief from it. You are drenched in the blood of a Perfect man who sacrificed Himself for you, who fought greater darkness than you will ever fathom for a cause you will never fully understand. You don't think you can fight this battle anymore? Of course you can't because YOU are the one fighting it. There is One out there stronger than you who cried out to you, "Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. ..for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Climb out of your corner and cling to the cross.

Summer Fun with Paper Fans

2011-09-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a great craft to make with restless kids on a hot summer day: fans! My kids love those cheapy paper fans at the dollar store; however, no sooner do we get home those pretty fans are broken and littered all over my mini van. These gems I found in Family Fun magazine. They are sturdier than the dollar store fans (a duh!) AND the kids get to design them themselves! So massive kudos for kid kreativity!! Yay for us!Materials needed:
1 piece of cardstock 6x12
double sided tape or glue
stapler
2 craft sticks
tiny rubber band (we used the baby's rubber hair ties)
To get started the first thing you need is a piece of cardstock cut to 6x12 size
Begin an accordion fold on the top at about a width of 1" Do not fold the way I did in the picture or you will get a white fan. Start your fold with the design side face down on the table. Then make your fold so that you see a one inch strip of design paper against a white backdrop.
Continue with the accordian fold until the entire paper has been folded (So simple seriously. It hurts to write this knowing you are probably already all over this by now)
Bring the accordian fold together and staple the middle. I used two staples next to each other.
With your glue, adhere the top fold together. You can use regular tape to seal the edge so it won't split.
Take your double sided tape (preferred but we used scrapbook glue.) With the stapled side facing up place the tape or glue one half of the craft stick then adhere to the bottom flaps of both sides. Wrap your rubber band around the bottom of the craft sticks to hold the fan together until the glue dries.
Wallah! Instant Southern air conditioning. All we need is the sweet tea. Woo-hoo! Yay for fun!

Sweet Boys

2011-08-28T21:29:00.001-07:00

Thinking About Changing Things...

2011-08-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

I want to get your take on some changes I have been mulling over in my head as of late. My walk as a believer has been amazing to say the least. We believers tend to have experiences quite the opposite from the rest of the world. Duh, Celi, no news here...LOL. Obviously. What I mean is, I have come to realize that the further along I go in my walk, the less I know. Finding a niche for this blog compared to all the millions of millions of blogs out there is getting harder for me the longer I have it. What is my purpose for placing my thoughts on this page and is it truly beneficial for anyone to read other than myself over and over again in the darkness of the night...sob...weep...sigh?

I'd like to expand Profits of Silver further than just my spiritual ramblings. I'd like to ask, how many of us ramble spiritually inside of our heads, talking to God, throughout the day? I do constantly. While I'm washing dishes, changing diapers, picking up toys and sorting clothes...all day long. And every now and then I get this thought that says, "ooh, that's good I need to blog about that," but the day passes into the evening then the next day comes and that little rambling is now archived somewhere in the dusty vacant lot of my brain. It's a scary place. Then this evening I realized, what is so special about my ramblings compared to yours? There is so much wisdom out there and I read it in YOUR blogs. I hear it in my ears when I talk to fellow believers or listen to amazing sermons, and obviously when I read the Scriptures.

What I would like to do when I talk expansion is include some fun activities I do with the family. Things like creative cooking ideas for kids, involving kids, sneaky ways to get them to eat healthier, fun crafts, KONOS projects we did that could be beneficial to anyone to do, inexpensive outdoor and indoor games we do using everyday items...etc, etc. I don't know much that most women don't already do in regards to most departments but I do know that I need to spend more time with my family. And instead of abandoning all outside communication with the world, why can't I pick up the fantastic experiences we have after we are done and share them with my friends in the off chance you might want to try them too?

Obviously, every now and then when I am robbed of sleep in the deep of the night with a yearning to post some spiritual rambling of some sort, I would still like to do that too but I am worried that this blog is becoming a bit, well, heavy. Heavy is good every now and then. It's prolific but is it the direction for THIS blog? Is it me?

Anyway, I come to you, my reader, because honestly, I probably have only one. Hahaha. And I ask you,faithful friend, what are your thoughts?

Nothing is Everything

2011-07-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

Too often do I open up a blog to see someone, especially myself, post of nothing going on, "no news here" but yet here I am wrapping my mind around several events of absolutely nothing that in all honesty actually mean everything. A friend of mine who is wrapped in a world of chaos tells me quite often how she prays for normal again for days filled with nothing. How full those days really are! Small events that may not be as monumental as a child's first steps or the day one has come into salvation are important nonetheless. I had five minutes to sit on my couch today and when I did I thought of the days events, the close of B's Apple Camp, housework, schoolwork, my frequent talks with God trying to figure out so many monumental little things. Now, here come my children, dancing on their miniature feet, laughing and playing with each other, "Mommy can I's?" fill my ears and again my head is no longer pondering over "nothing." A Titus 2 woman once told me to savor my time, "The days are long," She said, "but the years are short." Wise words to echo in the nautilus of an ear that experiences so much more than nothing.

Called to Be a Mother

2011-05-06T09:55:00.001-07:00

"You mean that’s all you do?”

That’s all? As a mother, your life is given to taking care of people –
small ones, to begin with, whose wants never seem to cease. Sometimes when
your days seem to be wholly taken up with wiping things – dishes and sinks,
little runny noses and big slow tears – you wonder about what “fulfillment”
is supposed to mean for you. You wonder about being (besides the perfect
wife and mother) the hostess-with-the-mostest, creative, intellec-tually
productive, beautiful….and slowly your dreams seem to evaporate.
You’ve been listening to what they’re telling us nowadays about how
important it is to find yourself, express yourself and assert yourself.
Maybe you’re thinking that you’re nothing more than somebody’s wife and
some-body else’s mother. And what kind of life is that?
There is a tribe in the Southern Sudan called “Nuers” where a woman’s
name is changed not when she become a wife, but when she be-comes a mother.
She is “ManPuk” – “Mother of Puka.” Among the Nuers, being someone’s mother
is what makes a woman’s life meaningful. Two thousand years ago there was
another young woman, of the Jewish tribe of Judah, who understood that
truth. The world has never forgotten her – Mary, the mother of Jesus –
because she was willing to be known as, simply, Someone’s mother.
Motherhood is a calling. It is a womanly calling…..and let’s not be
cowed by those who extinguish the light and joy of sexuality by trying to
persuade us to forget words like manly and womanly. At the beginning of
time when God made the first man and the first woman in His image He put
both under the divine command to be fruitful. The woman’s obedience to that
command meant self-giving. First she gave herself to her husband – he
initiated, she responded – then she gave herself for the life of her child.
A woman knows, in the deepest regions of her being, that it is this very
self-giving for which she was made. Single or married, her level of
maturity is measured by how much she gives to others. If she’s married, she
gives herself to her husband and she receives. If she’s a mother, she loses
her life in her child and – mysteriously – she finds it.
A woman knows that no one can really say where the giving ends and the
receiving starts. It is no wonder we are confused when urged to look for
some “better” or “higher” vocation in which to “prove our personhood.” No
wonder we are distressed to be subjected to male standards, or told that the
notions of femininity and masculinity are obsolete.
Old fashioned notions they are indeed, but they weren’t our own to begin
with. They were God’s. He planned the whole system, and it’s God Himself
who calls. He calls some to be single, some married people to be childless,
but He calls most women to be mothers. There are, the Bible tells us,
“differences of gifts,” and they’re all given to us according to God’s
grace. None of the gifts of my own life – not my “career” or my work or any
other gift – is higher or more precious to me than that of being some-one’s
mother.
If our calling is to be mothers, let’s be mothers with all our hearts –
gladly, simply, and humbly – like that little peasant girl Mary who spoke
for all women for all time when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to Thy word” (Luke 1:38).

~~~~~Elisabeth Elliot~~~~~

Moved in and My Little Guy

2011-04-06T03:51:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, yes! We are officially moved in! Most of the boxes are unpacked, paintings are hung and we are all getting acclimated to our new surroundings. Therefore, there will be more opportunities for me to get back to blogging! Woo-hoo!
Here is a picture of my little guy. Obviously, he likes the taste of the pads of his fingers OR he's super excited about losing his second tooth! He's six so what can I say? Anyway, this handsome boy has been having migraines about twice a week for around six months. They have gone up to about one a day (they did this in December also.) After a visit to the neurologist it was determined that my son has something called pseudotumor cerebri. Basically something outside his brain is causing pressure on his brain and his eyes. Which explains why he normally holds his eyes during a migraine and tells me it feels like lava oozing out. This Friday he is scheduled for a lumbar puncture, similar to a spinal tap, where they will be removing some excess brain fluid to test and see what is causing this pressure and also to alleviate some of the brain fluid in the hopes that this might cure his migraines as well. Would you mind saying a little prayer for my handsome little guy? I have heard a few testimonies about lumbar punctures and they weren't very favorable. However, I am comforted that his MRI has pinpointed a cause for his pain and it is being treated. Praise the King!

Isn't She Lovely?

2011-03-15T09:09:00.001-07:00

(cue Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely" harmonica solo) Yes, I've been singing this song ever since this little gem landed in my kitchen. Look at her? My new Vitamix. Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? She comes equipped with a 64 oz BPA free container, the 32 oz smaller counterpart, the dry blade for grains, some cutting boards, a whole foods cookbook, a waterless stainless steele pot and so on and so on. BUT the best part is the actual star of the show, the one the only all star best blender in the world ever... (drum roll please) the HERcules of all turbo blenders...the Vitamix itself!
I've been having fun concocting green smoothies, soups, purees and today we are making ice cream. (Big smile)
I know I may be a little over dramatic but after burning through 9 blenders anywhere from three weeks to eight weeks after original purchase you have to understand my enthusiasm. So turn it up DJ and sing with me!!! "Isn't she looovellllyyyyy? Isn't she won-der-ful. Isn't she precious?..." fade and out.

Be Still

2011-03-01T21:41:00.000-08:00

It's 10pm right now and I am knee deep in searching for our new home. A friend of mine checked in on me via email and when I responded back with a brief summary of what has been going on in my head (and I say this because in all actuality my world is still very secure) she sent me this. What encouragement! Thank you Jesus! Thank you my Beautiful Friend!

Drop the Reins -

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

This has always been one of my favorite verses. The image of
being still before God, resting in Him and knowing that He is in
control gives me great comfort. I recently discovered that the
Hebrew word for be still, "raphah", has another meaning.
Raphah means not only to be quiet, but it can also mean to let
drop or let go, especially the hand. It is the picture of a
horseback rider dropping the reins and letting the horse be
totally in control.

When I was young, I dreamed of having my own horse. My favorite
books were the "Black Stallion" series and I read every one of
them. When I grew up and actually had the opportunity to ride a
horse, I have to admit to being afraid! Suddenly that beautiful
horse became a powerful horse. What if he didn't listen to my
commands? What if he decided to go where he wanted? What if I
lost control? The problem was - it wasn't my horse. I didn't
know him. Didn't know how he'd respond to circumstances we might
encounter. Didn't know if I could trust him. Didn't have faith
in him.

It's not that way with God. When we have a personal relationship
with the Lord through Jesus, we can trust Him. The more we
develop that intimate relationship, the more we come to know Him
and the more we know that we can place our faith in Him
completely. No matter the circumstances, He is right there to
help us through them.

Do you see the application? Be still. Drop the reins. Let God
be in control. Quiet your heart to the extent that there is no
striving, no worry, no fear. It's not easy at first to do this
but it's an amazing way to gain God's peace. Lately, if one of
those little "what if" thoughts comes into my mind or if I feel
myself trying too hard to control a situation, I literally drop
my hands to my side and recite Psalm 46:10 as a prayer back to
God. "Lord," I say, "You tell me to be still and to know that
you are God. I drop the reins and I choose to let You be in
control. You already have the situation under control. You work
all things together for good because I love You and You have a
purpose for my life."

The word raphah is also used to speak of God and His promises.

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or
destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which
he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:31

The word abandon, or forsake in the KJV, is also the word
raphah. Here it says that God will NOT let go or drop the
reins. He is merciful and will not forget His promises! While
we continually give Him the control, He faithfully promises not
to abandon us.

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD
your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor
forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

The word fail in this verse also means abandon or forsake.
It's like God wants this point very clear. He will neither
abandon nor forsake (which also means leave or abandon) us!

Whatever circumstances you're facing today, no matter how hard or
heart breaking they may be, know that God will never, never leave
you. Turn to Him, drop the reins and let Him work the situation
out for your good and His glory! Be exalted O Lord!

God Bless,
Teri standing in MN
"Rejoice Marriage Ministries"

Caution: Delays

2011-02-26T14:07:00.001-08:00

It seems there is yet another adventure awaiting the Back Pack: moving. I am finally at the tail end of prepping our current home for the market. So things here have been busy, busy, busy. I have posts running through my head that I WILL get out but I need to get past Monday first. So please be patient with your Sister and please keep checking back!! There have been fun times afoot at Castle Back and I can't wait to share them with you!!

{{{HUGS!}}}
Your friend,
Celi

Learning Contentment by Charles H. Spurgeon

2011-02-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content."
--Philippians 4:11

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned...to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave--a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree.
Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.

Blessing the Marriage

2011-01-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Many years ago when my marriage was much younger than it is now, I distinctly remember being convicted in the form of a compliment. It was after church when I was cleaning up from fellowship a well regarded gentleman who was watching me and another woman said this: "May God bless James, Blank and Blank. They've received a special blessing by being married to such strong assertive women."
What? I screamed in my heart. I don't remember what I did to be called out but the horror that I felt at that moment spread across my face like butter on hot toast. My friend, whose husband was one of those named by this man, turned to me and said, "Don't be so rigid Celi, it was a compliment!" She laughed, flipped her hair and walked off. My heart dropped. Is this how those outside my own home see me?
Later on, I was introduced to a great book called Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. Since then I have read it several times and I always am confronted with something new. Doug Phillips has a great sermon in regards to those of us "strong and assertive" women entitled "A Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision" Another must for any wife to have in her CD collection.
Since then James has assured me that I have taken great strides and he is thankful for it. I am thankful for that gentleman to point out something obvious to others but oblivious to me.
Marriage is so much more than anything anyone can ever see, hear or gasp! even feel. It is far greater than any intention or hope or dream or dance that anybody can ever anticipate. A few days ago while on a walk I was listening to a great sermon by Voddie Baucham called Gospel Healing for Hurting Marriages. It was amazing. I would like to share it with you. This sermon is a must for anyone married regardless of the state of it. It is a great reminder of the tending a marriage needs in order to fulfill its purpose as the perfect example of Christ and His Church.
Here is a link. Please listen. You won't regret it:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5409160500

Encouragement for Homeschooling Moms aka "The Ringmasters"

2010-12-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

This little gem was nestled in my inbox this morning waiting to be cracked open. I don't regret it. It's a wonderful article written by a woman who homeschooled five kids. Encouragement is always meant to be passed on, especially when it goes out to all the exceptional women out there not only raising their kids but educating them as well. My hats off to you my friends...my ringmasters.

Ringmaster
by Sarah Bensen
I'm not the sort who leaps without looking. So I researched home schooling for years before actually making the jump. Then, the August before I became an official home school mom, I confidently drew up a list of goals- academic, social, spiritual - three neat pages carefully handwritten. It's a sweet document, earnest, idealistic...and utterly hilarious. I knew I was about to assume primary responsibility for my children's education. What I emphatically didn't know is that I was about to join a circus.

The homeschool mom is a master juggler. The first year started out innocuously enough, curled on the couch with my kindergartner working slowly through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons The title should have given me pause. One hundred lessons are a lot for a five year old and the last eighty or so are not all that easy.

But we persevered, and once reading was conquered, I threw in spelling, addition, a baby, grammar, (What exactly is a preposition?), science experiments, long division, , another couple of babies, fractions, English composition (I get prepositions now!), the Civil War, music lessons, algebra, and one last baby. Watch the balls fly: logarithms, enthalpy, forty-nine insane comma rules, and Western Civ. Soon I'm studying Grapes of Wrath with the oldest, and, yes, a tattered 100 Easy Lessons with the little one. My head spins with curriculum decisions, lesson plans and record-keeping necessary to produce a meaningful high school transcript. Now a pile of housework, social obligations, dentist appointments, and, oh yeah, I almost forgot - I've got a husband, too! I'm really juggling now. Watch me teach one, two, three, four, five with a nutritious dinner on the table promptly at six.

The homeschool mom is a tight rope pro. Precariously, I balance my crazy schedule - head up, keep moving, never look down. I tend towards permissiveness, but during school hours I must demand excellence. If I'm too rigid, I rob my children of spontaneous learning opportunities that are a huge part of the reason I home school to start with. But neither do I serve their interests by permitting sloppy, incomplete or late schoolwork. I must balance the needs of the younger children with those of the older, taking as much care with phonics and elementary math as I do with British Literature and Drivers' Ed. Finally, I've learned that I must balance my family's needs with my own. Some spectacular emotional tumbles into the net over the years have taught me that lunch with a friend, morning devotions, an hour at the piano, even a relaxing bubble bath help to maintain equilibrium.

The home school mom is an expert lion tamer. I've stared down my large hairy felines. As a rule I enjoy the academic challenges, though, I admit that chemistry and precalculus occasionally seem like a bad idea. Relatives who think the kids should be in school don't much ruffle me. I've had to choose between getting organized and getting eaten. I sport a few puncture wounds, but mostly I'm organized. The fiery-eyed fanged beast that clouds my thinking and weakens my knees is intimidation. What if I inadvertently skip some skill vital to my children's future? What if they blow the SAT? What if they can't handle college? What if years down the road, they regret their weird education? If I don't keep a firm grip on my courage and face this lion square on, the responsibility for my children's education overwhelms me.

Don't let this tragic clown act fool you; secretly I love being a home school mom. The hours are horrendous, the pay stinks but the benefits are exceptional. I get to learn cool stuff every day. I spend a small fortune on fabulous books. My teenagers still want me to read to them out loud. I'm a million times more self-motivated, self-disciplined, and self-confident than I used to be. My kids are a delight to hang out with.

Recently my daughter, a college freshman, told me, "Mom, I love the education you gave me. I know so many things others kids my age don't. And I don't know stuff the other kids do." Intrigued, I asked her to explain. "I haven't watched as much TV. I don't get some of the school slang. I've never been to a dance or joined a clique. But I know way more about history, politics, and religion than my friends at school. You gave me a global perspective. I feel like I can learn anything." Once in a while, a home school mom is a trapeze artist sailing through the big tent, exhilarated by applause from the audience that means the most.

Christianity for the Simple Minded

2010-12-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

The other day I was browsing through my favorite websites when I came across yet another rebuttal from N.T. Wright written for John Piper. Apparently, there is a dispute with these two that resembles the football rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State University. When one writes a book, the other writes a rebuttal. Then another book and another rebuttal. So here I was reading this N.T. Wright article when I realized I needed a dictionary in order to make it through the first paragraph! After reaching for the nearest dictionary (which I had to fight two public school educators for at a teacher's store outlet BTW) I started thumbing through. By the second paragraph, my brain blew up. I actually felt the pressure build up, watched the steam billow forth from my eardrums than POP! it exploded. I backtracked out of the article laid my head in my hands and realized I am way too simple to read complicated stuff like this. So how easy would it be for me to be deceived?
Later James came home from work and I told him about the mess in my head that was once my brain and the cause for said disaster. He explained to me in layman's terms what is going on between Mr. Wright and Mr. Piper and the basic points of the article. I breathed a sigh of relief. Wow, thanks to My God that my husband gets it!
What a man! I'm telling you. And I know many women out there are probably a lot more biblically sophisticated than this fool that writes before you but a special prayer I am sending out to our husbands as our headships and our protectors. I have always been easily swayed so having an anchor as my partner is incredibly crucial.
Remember Eve was the one deceived in the Garden of Eden as were the women of Antioch in Acts 13:50-52 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
it was the prominent women who were stirred first, then the chief men which I am ASSUMING were their husbands. Seriously ladies, we do hold great power as the wives of our husbands. We hold their ear more than their own mothers. As a result of the abusive deception of these women, the city was cursed by the shaking of the dust off of the Apostles feet and the blessings were sent elsewhere. How sad is this? Sigh. What a total segway on the part of this blogger, my apologies but a complete revealing FOR ME that as a simple minded Christian it is imperative that I seek the counsel of my husband in all that I learn as he does with me in order to fully equip ourselves with the armor of God for His glory in all that we do.
Fallen.
Simple.
Sinful fool.
Blowing my brains over N.T. Wright articles.
Just crazy.

Maintenance

2010-12-09T11:32:00.001-08:00

Hello,
To the three readers I MIGHT still have, this site is going to be under maintenance until I can figure out how to reorganize it so it is more reader/user efficient. Hopefully, this can all be done fairly quickly.

Thank you so much for your patience!

Bountiful Baskets

2010-11-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been volunteering for Bountiful Baskets. It's truly been enjoyable. At four I awake and set about my morning tasks and by 6:30 I am out the door. For those who may not know, Bountiful Baskets is a volunteer run organization that helps its community by gathering fruits and vegetables together from local markets and provides them for purchase for about $15 a basket. Wow, what a run-on. The picture above is the very first basket I purchased from BB. If you can, I would recommend volunteering. You show up about an hour early help the coordinator set up the baskets and break down boxes. As a reward, you are welcome to help yourself to any extras. I have come to enjoy my Saturday mornings with BB. James stays home and takes care of the littles while they are at their most precious, rubbing their eyes and crawling into his lap for warmth, while I go out and collect our "crops" so to speak. Please don't misunderstand, I certainly love my job as a mother and home manager and this is not an opportunity to "escape." It's an opportunity to bless this family and myself by servicing others and, yes, getting my pick of the extras leftover. These are hard times and every little bit helps.

To check out if Bountiful Baskets is servicing your area go to: www.bountifulbaskets.org (my blog doesnt create links, sorry) Click on the locations tab. You can also see what their contributions are and if you do purchase a basket, normally done on Mondays or Tuesdays, the volunteer time is located right above the pick up time. Just show up and the coordinator will direct you.

Lean and Green: The Smoothie Challenge

2010-10-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

How often did we shutter when our mother reminded us of the importance of eating our vegetables? My dog eats several things I won't mention in this blog but one thing she refuses to touch is...vegetables. Broccoli alone is chock full of valuable vitamins and minerals, most of which are lost during the cooking process but who eats raw broccoli every day?

For quite some time now my family and I have been partakers of Green Smoothie Girl's (www.greensmoothiegirl.com) 30 Day Smoothie challenge. We have already completed the thirty days and are enjoying the benefits of eating at least 15 servings of green vegetables and fruits a day.

James and I have both lost weight, I get more compliments now on my appearance and the kids love the smoothies too! Increased energy, decreased irritability, no more struggling to get through tired afternoons, it's amazing stuff.

GSG (Green Smoothie Girl) recommends starting with mild greens and mostly fruit (25% greens: spinach or kale are great starters and 75% fruit: must include at least one if not two bananas then whatever else you like) If you can add a superfood (goji berries, acai berries, wheat grass, hemp seed, etc.) all the better!

To start add only the green lettuce to the number 5 in your blender. Then add juice or water about halfway up the greens. Blend until liquid. Then from here add all other ingredients. Blend and serve. For a creamer smoothie you can add kefir or yogurt. This can also boost up your probiotic intake which will only help mop up all the free radicals and cancer causing carcinogens in the digestive system. The greens alone are great at cleaning up the digestive tract of all unwelcome toxins left behind from most anything we eat. The fruit helps to hide all the bitterness from most greens and the blending process of the smoothie helps your digestive system to make the most of all the nutrients and live enzymes contained within for optimal health.

My six year old (who has already noticed an increased ability to concentrate and maintain his anxiety levels: thank you ADHD, OCD and CTD) is quite the smoothie connoisseur. He LOVES them. Below I have his famous Kandy Kooler recipe he makes for the kids for breakfast.

Kandy Kooler
3 cups Spinach
2 cups Kale
1 T. Hemp Powder (a complete protein full of Omega 3's, 6's and CLA's)
1 T. Ground Flax Seed (full of Omega 3's and 6's)
2.5 cups grape juice or cherry juice or combo of both (juice with no added sugars recommended)

Blend together

Add

1 Banana
1 cup blueberries
1 peach cut up into chunks
4 Strawberries
1/2 cup kefir or yogurt of choice

Optional ingredients to add:
Acai pulp or berries
1 pear
1 apple
1 mango for punch
1/2 cucumber
2 carrots

Blend all together then pour in cups and serve. Can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Your First Love

2010-10-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

"Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you left your first love." -Jesus Christ, to the church of Ephesus, Revelation 2:4

In love I am calling out to you my sisters and brothers in Christ as I, too, am convicted of this. Conservative Christians: do you find it easy to boast in your godly wisdom and revelations yet is it difficult to show grace and love to others? Both to believers and unbelievers alike? Stacy MacDonald once said, "I would rather have lunch with a willing heathen than a prideful Christian." Christians, we MUST watch our pride. In the recent past, I watched as a brother and sister in Christ were told that the cause of their endless trials and suffering were being brought on by God as judgment. Shameful! This reminds me of Job's response to his friends, "Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom!" Job 13:5
I believe we conservative Christians, reformed theologians, have fallen astray from our first love. One man, I know, has great love for Jesus. It emits from him. It doesn't mean he dresses in pants down to his ankles and curses and witnesses at bars in an effort to become all things to all people so that some might be saved. (A gross misinterpretation of Paul's preaching to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 9:22.)
No, this great man of God, full of the wisdom of His Father and yet humble in his knowledge, fully displays the love of Jesus. So please, my friends in Christ, know that I love you because I love my Master and if I fall from this way and have gone astray in my love for Him, please, in love, tell me so that I may never take my eyes on the only One deserving of my adoration.

I close with wise words from the Prince of Preachers: Charles Spurgeon, my love to you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

"The love of Christ constraineth us."
--2 Corinthians 5:14

How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer. How will you feel when your Master comes, if you have to confess that you did nothing for Him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant pool, neither flowing forth to His poor or to His work. Out on such love as that!
What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Why, they say, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Who will accept a love so weak that it does not actuate you to a single deed of self-denial, of generosity, of heroism, or zeal! Think how He has loved you, and given Himself for you! Do you know the power of that love? Then let it be like a rushing mighty wind to your soul to sweep out the clouds of your worldliness, and clear away the mists of sin. "For Christ's sake" be this the tongue of fire that shall sit upon you: "for Christ's sake" be this the divine rapture, the heavenly afflatus to bear you aloft from earth, the divine spirit that shall make you bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord's service. Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus. May the divine loadstone draw us heavenward towards itself.

Ten Reasons Not To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

2010-10-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Written By Todd Friel
The music weeps, the preacher pleads, “Give your heart to Jesus. You have a God shaped hole in your heart and only Jesus can fill it.” Dozens, hundreds or thousands of people who want to get their spiritual life on track make their way to the altar. They ask Jesus into their heart.
Cut to three months later. Nobody has seen our new convert in church. The follow up committee calls him and encourages him to attend a Bible study, but to no avail. We label him a backslider and get ready for the next outreach event.
Our beloved child lies in her snuggly warm bed and says, “Yes, Daddy. I want to ask Jesus into my heart.” You lead her in “the prayer” and hope that it sticks. You spend the next ten years questioning if she really, really meant it. Puberty hits and the answer reveals itself. She backslides. We spend the next ten years praying that she will come to her senses.
Telling someone to ask Jesus into their hearts has a very typical result, backsliding. the Bible says that a person who is soundly saved puts his hand to the plow and does not look back because he is fit for service. In other words, a true convert cannot backslide. If a person backslides, he never slid forward in the first place. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (II Cor.5) No backsliding there.
Brace yourself for this one: with very few if any exceptions, anyone who asked Jesus into their hearts to be saved…is not. If you asked Jesus into your heart because you were told that is what you have to do to become a Christian, you were mis-informed.
If you have ever told someone to ask Jesus into their heart (like I have), you produced a false convert. Here is why.
1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse that even hints we should say a prayer inviting Jesus into our hearts. Some use Rev. 3:20. To tell us that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts begging to come in.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” There are two reasons that interpretation is wrong.
The context tells us that the door Jesus is knocking on is the door of the church, not the human heart. Jesus is not knocking to enter someone’s heart but to have fellowship with His church.
Even if the context didn’t tell us this, we would be forcing a meaning into the text (eisegesis). How do we know it is our heart he is knocking at? Why not our car door? How do we know he isn’t knocking on our foot? To suggest that he is knocking on the door of our heart is superimposing a meaning on the text that simply does not exist.
The Bible does not instruct us to ask Jesus into our heart. This alone should resolve the issue, nevertheless, here are nine more reasons.
2. Asking Jesus into your heart is a saying that makes no sense. What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will He somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does He reside in the upper or lower ventricle? Is this a metaphysical experience? Is it figurative? If it is, what exactly does it mean? While I am certain that most adults cannot articulate its meaning, I am certain that no child can explain it. Pastor Dennis Rokser reminds
us that little children think literally and can easily be confused (or frightened) at the prospect of asking Jesus into their heart.
3. In order to be saved, a man must repent (Acts 2:38). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of repentance.
4. In order to be saved, a man must trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of faith.
5. The person who wrongly believes they are saved will have a false sense of security. Millions of people who sincerely, but wrongly, asked Jesus into their hearts think they are saved but struggle to feel secure. They live in doubt and fear because they do not have the Holy Spirit giving them assurance of salvation.
6. The person who asks Jesus into his heart will likely end up inoculated, bitter and backslidden. Because he did not get saved by reciting a formulaic prayer, he will grow disillusioned with Jesus, the Bible, church and fellow believers. His latter end will be worse than the first.
7. It presents God as a beggar just hoping you will let Him into your busy life. This presentation of God robs Him of His sovereignty.
8. The cause of Christ is ridiculed. Visit an atheist web-site and read the pagans who scoff, “How dare those Christians tell us how to live when they get divorced more than we do? Who are they to say homosexuals shouldn’t adopt kids when tens of thousands of orphans don’t get adopted by Christians?” Born again believers adopt kids and don’t get divorced.
People who ask Jesus into their hearts do. Jesus gets mocked when false converts give Him a bad name.
9. The cause of evangelism is hindered. While it is certainly easier to get church members by telling them to ask Jesus into their hearts, try pleading with someone to make today the day of their salvation. Get ready for a painful response. “Why should I become a Christian when I have seen so called Christians act worse than a pagan?” People who ask Jesus into their hearts give pagans an excuse for not repenting.
10. Here is the scary one. People who ask Jesus into their hearts are not saved and they will perish on the Day of Judgment. How tragic that millions of people think they are right with God when they are not. How many people who will cry out, “Lord, Lord” on judgment day will be “Christians” who asked Jesus into their hearts?
So, what must one do to be saved? Repent and trust. (Heb.6:1) The Bible makes it clear that all men must repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Every man does have a “God shaped hole in their hearts,” but that hole is not contentment, fulfillment and peace. Every man’s heart problem is righteousness. Instead of preaching that Jesus fulfills, we must preach that God judges and Jesus satisfies God’s judgment…if a man will repent and place his trust in Him.
If you are reading this and you asked Jesus into your heart, chances are good you had a spiritual buzz for a while, but now you struggle to read your Bible, tithe, attend church and pray. Perhaps you were told you would have contentment, purpose and a better life if you just ask Jesus into your heart. I am sorry, that was a lie.

Burning Idols

2010-09-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Let's get down to the point. I have idols. I have high places. Places that most of us imperfect heathen wretched sinners have and had. Places we have burned are burning or are really struggling with tearing down right now. The trick is finding them. And that is what this post is about.

Recently, I read in a blog something Evangeline Johnson wrote about Titus 2:4-5 the verse that reads what the elder women are to teach the younger, "that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Praises to God for allowing me to read that when I did because not even two days later I was reading Facebook stats and replying to my posts and pictures. Hours passed by within minutes. That was when my eyes gazed down on Josh. He was covered head to toe in black sharpie marker. AND HE WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME! On the floor granted but right there by my side! His clothes were drawn on, his pillow, his arms and legs and face all covered in black marker.

Suddenly a sea of bible verses poured inside the nautilus of my ear. Proverbs 29:15 was the first, "A child left to himself brings shame to his mother." Then Deuteronomy 6:7 concerning the teachings of our Lord, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." What was I teaching Josh at this moment? He has no idea what Facebook is but he sat next to me because he loves me and wanted to spend time with me. So where was my time spent? What was I loving at the moment? That was when Titus 2:4 entered the party. Evangeline brought up a good point about this verse. The word used for love in the excerpt about our children philoteknos translates "to be a friend to your children."

God is amazing. I love those "Aha" moments concerning our God. Facebook was cancelled. And for added insurance, my blessed husband double blocked it from the computer. It truly became an idol for sometime before it was torn down. Now the goal is to spend time with my kids being friends and doing something together in lue of time I would have spent on the computer.

I have bad days but the kids and I have had a blast hanging out together and doing things together. There is a collection of blog posts in my head filled with our fun adventures: paper crafting, making puppets, sewing basics and cooking healthy but creative kids snacks (My Big Girl has asked to take over this feature on here.) I haven't posted them because it is hard to find time that I can step away without deterring into a sea of hypocrisy similar to the previous idol.

If you bear with me, please do, I would love to tell you about the things the kids and I have learned together. Then maybe you can do them with your kids, or siblings, or kids you watch because honestly, it's good fun making friends with your kids.

And just as refreshing as burning idols...

The Fall

2010-08-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

At a creation/evolution debate I attended many years back, I heard this story. In the story a man sits on his rooftop and prays for God to save him from the flood he finds himself in. Moments later a boat arrives. The man shoes the boater off, "My God will save me." he declares. Then a helicopter arrives and receives the same treatment, "My God will save me!" the man calls out. Meanwhile the waters climb up the sides of his house and his roof sinks lower and eventually he drowns. In heaven, he asks God, "Why didn't you save me?" God says, " I sent you a boat, I sent you a helicopter and you refused both."

Well, on Saturday morning I was that man. My circumstances have given me three different situations telling me that I am no longer fit to bear babies the last being a vascular surgery I need on my legs but if I take the surgery the baby making stops. So, I was in prayer, "Lord, I really want more babies. If I can have more babies please send me a huge sign that loudly proclaims this as possible. I am a ditz Lord and I need it told to me in a very big way what you intend for me to do."

And guess what? He did. I was in my kitchen prepping breakfast when it happened. I fell on a large puddle of water from the cooler. And I fell hard. I landed right on the vein that was supposed to be removed. It hurt something terrible and swelled up to the size of my fist. I could barely take off my restricting pants. Later on, it receded but left behind is a plum colored bruise about 4 inches square. It hurts to walk, to stand from sitting, to shower. Pain is my new shadow. Lurking around every corner. But I know that pain is my body arriving in a helicopter or a boat telling me something is up and I need to fix it.

Now, surgery is inevitable. The next day, I heard my pastor proclaim the good news that he and his wife were expecting. He was so elated you couldn't help but partake in the celebration. This just goes to show the sovereignty of God. While he closes one womb he opens another. I have learned to be content with what is before me and instead of fighting all those the Lord is sending me in efforts to help, I will accept it. Thank you Father for answering my prayer...before I sunk any deeper.

Responsive Breastfeeding

2010-07-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was thumbing through my Above Rubies magazine. Half calling out to my hubby in the other room about the days events, halfheartedly flipping through the pages and looking at the pictures. That's when I saw an article I needed to see for a long time. I paused and read it. The woman writing was me! Anemic; yes, struggled with breastfeeding; yes, scheduled feedings; yes, tired, not enough milk, skinny babies, yes, yes, YES!
My precious baby is almost six months and she hasn't gained any weight. I have been toying with formula. Do I? Do I not? When I pump I see nothing. So busy being about in my Martha duties trying to figure out how I can squeeze in feeding my baby and HERE is the solution! So, I read with great enthusiasm then hopped off the bed and practically tackled my husband. "Look at this!" I said shoving the magazine in his face, "This is me!" I scurried off, "Quick, where is your iPad I need to find out about Responsive Breastfeeding!"
Please, I implore you to follow this link to this amazing blog I found of a Supermom (seriously, she is) and her writings in regards to Responsive Breastfeeding.

If you have these woes, this can help!
http://lanaeandbaby.blogspot.com/2009/10/responsive-breastfeeding-part-1.html

His and yours,
Celi

The Basketball Diaries: A Powerful Testimony from Susan Yenser

2010-07-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Conviction can come in many forms. This day conviction came to me when I was washing my dishes. Todd Friel's Wretched Radio podcast was playing in the background when I heard her voice.. It was amazing. Beautiful and strong. A young woman, a basketball star named Susan Yenser. She played for the Clemson Tigers

Here is the YouTube video with the full testimony, over seventeen minutes long.

I pray God touches your heart the way He did mine after hearing her speak.

Beautiful Friends

2010-06-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

I just got off the phone the other day with one of my very good friends. You probably know her. She's one of those kind of people that always seem to find the patch of bright blue sky on the most gloomiest of days. The kind that is more than ready to offer a hug, or a prayer for you whenever you need it even through the rocky seas of her own tribulations.
When I got off the telephone with my friend I felt like Jesus just reached down from His High Place and gave me a really big hug. It was wonderful. If you have someone like this in your life, pray for her. Thank God for her. It is in people like this that allow you to see Jesus. Yes, trials, yes, tribulations, yes, whiny moments of wondering "Am I?" or "Am I not?" Sometimes it takes people like this who have God as their center, to tell you where your focus really needs to be. And to do so with great love.
Another friend of mine has a sticker on her fridge that reads "My God knows me this I love." It tickles me to read this. To have those words reverberate in the nautilus of my ear, "My God knows me." HE knows me! And I love it!

Thank You My Father, first for Your saving grace, for allowing me the opportunity to know You and to love You. Thank You for showing me small puzzle pieces of the wonderful love You have to offer me, despite who I am, through my beautiful friends. I pray for my friends Father. Bless them, hold them, and love them greater than You do for me. I love You. In the sweet name of my Savior I pray, In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Managing five

2010-04-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

It wasn't so long ago I sat in Kristina's living room and listened to several women I admire talk about five children being the testing point in their careers as stay at home superstars. These women have amazed me in many ways. These are the kind of women who lovingly place their warm apple pie in the window sill to cool while they help their children understand everything from Paul to polynomials, then off to soccer practice then back to their immaculate home in time to have dinner steaming on the table for their husband.

For lack of a better word it was wonderful to see the human side of these women. Now I am there, where they were... at five kids, trying to figure out how to balance it all "through my Christ who strengthens me."

Celi

Baby Maria Andrea is here

2010-03-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the baby was born one month ago and now I find the time to post here about her arrival. Baby Mary is here. She was born on February 14, 2010 at 12:02pm. She weighed 7 lbs 8 ozs and was 19 inches long. The labor was manageable and never got very intense. In fact, I remember vividly cleaning Joshua's Valentine candies off of his face and hands at nine centimeters. The birth; however, was a different story. Fortunately, the keen observations of the midwives saved Mary's life and maybe my own. One emergency c-section and a lot of pain meds later we were both nestled in our hospital beds (she in NICU and me too far from her) ready to start our new adventure together.

Unfortunately, I am on a different computer which does not have her picture on it but I will TRY to post it later.

Love and hugs,
Celi

Myths

2010-01-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

Visiting my sister has been long overdue. It was good to see her. She looked good. Happy. Carrying this large book in her arms she plopped it on the seat next to me, "Look up your birthday. This book is amazing."
"What?" I replied. I stared at the image across it and knew within moments what was before me. It was an astrology book. For a brief period of my former life I did dabble in making astrological charts for people. Making those charts helped me realize how truly general and sensational astrology was. "No thanks, Sis" I responded handing her the book. I could read May 25th or September 17th and still find something that related to me.
"Sash," that's my family nickname, " Don't be such a dork. Just read it." So I flipped it over to my page. My sister grabbed the book and started reading on my behalf.
"This is so you," she said, "You love to write. You're creative. And independent?" I caught her pause, "Hmmm... well, maybe BEFORE you got married."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. She didn't respond but I knew.
Homemakers aren't seen as independent, or strong, or self-sufficient, or anything other than some weak, mild mannered bread baking homely pilgrim farmers wife doting on her ungrateful husband and raising his brood of unintelligent, sarcastic kids.
Awhile ago, Todd Friel of Wretched radio brought a guest on his show: Suzanne Venker. She is the author of Seven Myths of Working Mothers. You can find her book here: http://suzannevenker.com/content/book.asp?id=Description
During the interview she spoke of the flawed viewpoint much of modern day society has on the role of the homemaker. One was that men have it all. "Why can't women have it all?" These people say. Ha. Like some thief came in and robbed us of all independence when we chose to stay home and raise our kids.
What I want to know is HOW do men have it all? Think about it. I honestly have the greatest job. I really do. I work for and with a house full of people who love me. My husband is a respected contributor of his company. However, if he screwed up on a marketing presentation he had to conduct in front of the president of said company I highly doubt his boss would squeeze his shoulder and tell him, "That's okay Buddy. Better luck next time."
My consequences are not as great solely because I am loved. "That's okay if you burned dinner mommy/ Honey. Sandwiches are a great second choice."
Also, men don't get to spend as much time with their children as women do. They are off working in the world, paying the bills, stressing over issues related to work then coming home and dealing with the issues presented there. I manage one team: my home. My husband manages two: his work team and his home team. Would I trade places with him? Would I give up the time I am given here with our children in order to push papers for someone who could fire and rehire me in seconds? Not a chance. Sorry, men don't have it all. Women do. And for that we need to pray for our husbands. One thing my husband yearns for is his time managed in a way that he can enjoy more time with us. I don't blame him. Life is great here.
But if anyone were to think for one minute I gave up myself, any part of myself, to take on this job, they are dead wrong.
If anything, with God's help, it has only grown me in ways I never thought imaginable.

Family Dog

2010-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

I am not a dog person. Not at all. I can count the number of dogs I actually care for to some degree on one hand and have three fingers left over. One of those dogs is...ahem...uh...the one we currently own. Now I know if my husband sees this he will jump in the air ecstatically. He is a dog whisperer and he loves our dog.

I just don't get it. They need constant maintenance: walks, poop clean-up, baths, and if you want to go on vacation forget it! Where are you going to put your dog?

The reason I tolerate Rosie is because she is an easy low-maintenance dog. She is great with kids. She doesn't bark ALL THE TIME, but if someone hangs too close to our house for too long she'll let out a low growl just to let them know she is there. She loves just about everyone she sees but I did personally witness her chase after a landscaper that helped himself into our backyard without asking and even our pest guy gets it unless I send him through the front door first to get the "sniff check". If she runs off and you call her she comes back. She won't even eat her food until you nod to her that it's ok.

But I feel bad for this dog because James is always at work and she is always here with me, looking at me with big ole doggie eyes wanting me to pet her or show her some kind of love and I just can't. If I get up, she gets up and follows me then lays at my feet and looks at me longingly waiting for me to love her. Urgh...so I get up again and tell her to "Stay!" And she stares at me cock-eyed then when I walk away she sneaks behind me to whatever room I am in and crawls into a dark corner where I shouldn't see her but she sees me. I have labored many babes and when I labor my dog is there..this time not at my feet but lying down watching me, making sure I am ok. I'll even yell at her and tell her to go away because she stinks! She just sulks to a farther corner and circles around a few times before settling in but she won't leave. She just watches. Why?

Why does this dog love me so much? Seriously? I don't understand how an animal can have such amazing devotion and loyalty to someone who doesn't treat her as well as someone else would.

I wonder sometimes how much Rosie would thrive in another house. She seriously would. I know plenty of people who have asked to own her at several points through our lives together. My husband and my kids vehemently say "no." So, I sigh and I throw my fist in the air and I loudly proclaim, "Lord, why?!" But I know in my heart of hearts if anything happened to this hairy smelly beast I would be heartbroken. Grrrr.....

The Adventure of the Crawling Shirt

2009-12-03T12:29:00.001-08:00

My son is diagnosed with OCD. Not the OCD your overly type-A friend proudly proclaims to have when she hands you a white glove and dares you to find dirt in her perfectly coiffed museum worthy surgically sterile home.

No, this is the FOR REAL OCD. The type that causes you to wash your hands sixty times every single instance you open your door and only after you have alternated locking and unlocking said door sixteen times in flawless repetition.

My son, whom I love more than myself, has an incredible desire to wear the same outfit, everyday, all the time. It used to toss between three shirts and two pairs of jean shorts which was manageable between laundry loads but constant wear caused one shirt to bear holes in the elbows and the other just got too small for him to keep on wearing. Of course, the eighties are back in style, so I could technically allow my son to wear an overly tight midriff even though it isn't net and he MIGHT get away with it.

...NAH...

Well, he has a Wall-E shirt that was given to him by his cousin. This is the last shirt standing. Everyday he wears this thing...even to bed! It has stains all over it and I try, boy do I ever, to get him to take it off even for just an hour so I can wash it but he has perfected the art of not acknowledging my existence during times such as these.

Today is a new day. Today I took him to the store and bought him a Bumblebee costume for his cousins birthday party. This little boy was so elated you couldn't get him to take that Wall-E shirt off fast enough.

Now, he is running around in his Bumblebee outfit and I am left with the task of washing the Wall-E shirt in a much needed bath. This shirt was so dirty I watched it crawl pitifully to my washer, open the lid and tumble right inside. Puffs of dirt escaped the neck collar as it loudly proclaimed for me to close the lid and add the soap, "Do it Now for the Love off all things clean and holy!"

So, I listened to the exhausted pleas of a dying dirty shirt. The Bumblebee costume has no idea what it has gotten itself into.

Potty humor

2009-11-03T01:52:00.000-08:00

Urgh...day number four without sleep. It begins. The Back Family Phoenix Adventure: Take 100, or 60, or just a break! I just got done reading a friends blog post about her kids screaming for her while she was using the bathroom and I laughed. How many times does this happen to you? Honestly. I can't remember the last time I used the bathroom without four smiling faces staring at me.

"Mom, whatcha doing" they say
"Do you really want to know?" I retort back

Today I stood squished in the corner of my shower, cold, clutching to any remnant of warm water that fell against my shoulders and tightly wound hands, and I tried to remember the last time I actually took a shower by myself. I couldn't remember. It reminded me of my friend, full in the belly pregnant, telling me how much she enjoyed her showers. "That's my me time." she said

I laughed then. I wonder what she thought when I did that. She probably thought I was an insensitive jerk, and she'd be right. I told her to enjoy it while she could.

I think about her everytime I try to sneak away and snag some "me time" in the shower. It's quickly short lived. I think the sound of running water is like some sort of dog whistle for kids. My toddlers normally are first in line stripped naked and opening the frosted glass door.

"Mommy, can we take a shower with you?"

Then the almost 13 month old baby climbs into the shower next, diaper and clothes and all.

He could care less.

Finally followed by my big girl. She never asks. Just looks at me longingly wanting to be included in the fun. At this point, why not, I say?

Another friend of mine has teenagers. She says it doesn't change when they get older. They just call to you through the door to refrain from the site of your hideous nakedness... or bang on it profusely until you get out.

Kids rock.

Petrified Marshmallow Brick

2009-10-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Michael located a bag of really old marshmallows in the pantry. He unwrapped his secret treasure and started devouring it with great pleasure. By the way, the marshmallows were so old they fused together. Evidence that kids will eat most anything if an abundance of sugar is involved. Michael chewing on his petrified find. He giggled profusely, "This is my sandwich!" He said with great enthusiasm. Nice dream buddy...
"No really Mom, I like it."

Sarah wanting to take a bite. Michael relents after some prodding, "Fine Fifi, only one bite." he says with great exasperation.

Sarah is sad, "Hey! I didn't even get a piece!"

The petrified marshmallow brick has now been confiscated by the baby

Chew. Chomp. Gurgle. Mmmm.... "This tastes better than stinky organic vegetables mama!"

Michael has eyed his brother chomping on his puffy treasure and snags it! "Wah!" Joshy proclaims.

The brick is carried off by big brother and only remnants of its disgusting carcass are left on my office mat.The sad thing is even the dog won't eat it. That says something right there...

A Tornado Did It!

2009-09-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

If the days behind are symbolic to what lies ahead, my life is chaos. My husband, bless him, has been bussling with work: after hours, weekends and even on his vacation his bluetooth has been attached to his ear with his laptop nestled comfortably in his lap.

God has blessed me with an astounding provider. This much is true. And I stand here laughing before you in an office UPSIDE down in shredded paper, a garbage can stomped on by my four year old son and papers amiss everywhere. Then let me take you to my foyer where more shredded paper awaits you. Here is where my children decided to bounce on the bags of paper like they were piles of freshly raked fall leaves. Chaos.

Boxes that hold the things from my husbands old office awaiting arrival to his new are placed along my steps. My floors and my couches are ridden with folded fresh clean clothes and clothes awaiting to be folded. Chaos.

My life is chaos. Yet, I laugh.

Yesterday my kids danced themselves around empty houses needing renters proudly proclaiming, "I like this house I like this house!" Before running into a car packed to the gills with toys, travel games and Trader Joes paper bags riddled with snacks and drinks.

My kids are thoroughly enjoying themselves. I am thoroughly enjoying myself. My husband cannot wait to finish the last of his meetings so he can actually enjoy himself. Life is good.

Therefore, I proudly proclaim against the calamity of this horribly misshapen house that a tornado did it! A whirlwind came right in and mixed my house around to be in the wretched shape it is!

And my family, the beauty that is, stands before you hair tossled but spirits high anxiously awaiting our next adventure.

The Government Can

2009-08-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody! Do you want free Health Care? College? Mortgages?

This is a hilarious video by a hilarious Christian comedian and seriously folks with what is happening in our government and what our government is getting away with is laughable. At least laughing is a lot less painful then crying.

Take the three minutes to watch this. Enjoy your laugh. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Celi

Moving

2009-08-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

Many of you are already aware that my God has given a tremendous opportunity to my husband. Instead of the demotion and possible lay off he and I were preparing ourselves for, my blessed husband has in a sense been promoted. He will be working for the corporate office as an IT manager for both Phoenix and Tucson staff.

I feel like I have just gotten off a roller coaster ride and I am stumbling to catch my stance before I have to hop onto the next one. To watch God move as we prayed is astounding. Before James accepted this position we both prayed that the Lord would reveal His will with this. Do we stay? Do we go?

Well doors are flying open and James and I are grasping tightly to each other against the wind. Now it is time to prepare the home for a renter. This is our next greatest obstacle. However, there aren't any worries. If we are in the will of God He will provide what we need to leave. Hands down.

Yet we all know that the prayers of even ONE righteous man will avail much. So please pray on our behalf to our Father. Not because we are anxious but because our God commands us to do it.

With great love,
Celi

Preparing for Rain

2009-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Have you ever peered into the eye of a hurricane? I saw a picture of it. A boat lay in the middle of calm waters. The sun shining golden rays against the mast. Tranquil waters lapping around the base of it. Yet, around the stillness of this gorgeous day lay chaos in the form of walled dark clouds. Lightening boar momentary holes in parts of them.

It was beautiful.

I am sure the occupants of this boat stared at what surrounded them and at some point they HAD to admire it; however, their admiration for the power that walled itself around them had to be temporary knowing that in a moments notice they too would be engulfed in calamity.

I had a moment this morning where I felt like those boaters. Standing across from my husband I watched him sipping his morning coffee solemnly; bearing the weight of the world on the breadth of his shoulders and my heart ached for him. To be him, a man of God, knowing that the next two weeks may bring a storm we have yet to prepare for. Knowing that the welfare of this family is his responsibility...to make the hard choices, to have them lie at his feet, to be picked up by his hands and to wear them against his shoulders. This is something I have yet to bear. However, I know not a woman alive, who loves her husband, can watch him bear a yoke of this great nature and not ache for him.

There are many men in the bible who had to make the "tough decisions." I think of Hosea marrying a harlot for the sake of prophesy (Hosea 1:2-3) Or Jeremiah who prophesied for God countless times and was abused for it, lying in the stocks bound in an excruciating pain yet not relenting in his ministry (Jer. 20: 2) or Ezekial being foretold of his wife's death as a sign to Israel. His wife was the "delight of his eyes," yet he submitted to God's will for the sake of a nation. (Eze 24:15-27)

Today, I implore you to pray for God's wisdom for your husbands. Pray for Him to grant your spouse discernment in caring out His will. I pray for all of the good God-fearing husbands out there, strong in their love for Jesus, may they carry out His will for themselves and their families.

Go today and love your life partner with an undying, everlasting, agape love. Know that God knit him to you in a powerful way and with God as your lead you will not fail.

With great love,
Celi

The Foolishness of the Proverbs 31 Woman

2009-08-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

" But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people , and your God, my God."

Ruth 1:16

This is the woman I aspire to be. She is one of many exemplary examples of great godly women in our blessed bible. Ruth exudes many characteristics similar to the ones King Lemuel's mother describes in Proverbs 31:10-31, which is our classic example of the perfect godly woman. In fact, she has eight characteristics which are similar to the Proverbs 31 woman (all of these were taken from my readings of John MacArthur's bible study on Ruth):

1. Devoted to her family (Ruth 1:15-18 and Prov. 31:10-12, 23)
2. Delighted in her work (Ruth 2:2 and Prov 31:13)
3. Diligent in her labor (Ruth 2: 7, 17, 23 and Proverbs 31:14-18, 19-21, 24 and 27)
4. Dedicated to godly speech (Ruth 2:10, 13 and Prov. 13:26)
5. Dependent on God (Ruth 2:12 and Prov 31:25b, 30)
6. Dressed with care (Ruth 3:3 and Prov. 31:22, 25a)
7. Discreet with men (Ruth 3:6-13, and Prov.31:11,12,23)
8. Deliver blessings (Ruth 4:14, 15 and Proverbs 31:28, 29, 31)

John MacArthur says the word "virtuous" in Proverbs 31:10 is the same Hebrew word used of Ruth in Ruth 3:11. It is also theorized that King Lemuel's mother is actually Bathsheba which would make Ruth, King Lemuel's great-grandmother. Therefore, Bathsheba would have verbally passed Ruth's spotless reputation along to David's son Solomon. MacArthur further theorizes that "Lemuel" means "Devoted to God" and that this could have been a nickname for Solomon. He refers to Jedediah in 2 Samuel 12:25 in order to back up his theory.

Take this as you deem fit. I, personally, like it.

This intrigues me because accomplishing the traits of the Proverbs 31 woman is an impossible feat, but to be given an example in human form, Ruth, makes this gigantic pill easier to swallow.
Furthermore, Ruth is not as perfect as the portrayal of the Proverbs 31 woman. She is a Moabitess by birth. The Moabites were infamous for child sacrifice, pagan and idol worship amongst other dastardly deeds that caused our Lord to weep. Ruth, of course, marries a Jewish man who then leaves her widowed. This woman abandons all worldly security and any means of survival to follow her also widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. This is all common knowledge and what else is common knowledge is that during these days widowed women often became destitute and died. They couldn't work, would probably have a hard time remarrying. Through the glasses of the natural man it seemed certain Ruth and Naomi were going to die and Orpah was the wiser of the daughter-in-laws because she remained in Moab.

The passage in Ruth 1:16 reminds me of what many believers go through when we choose to abandon our worldy securities and our lifestyle in order to pursue our calling in Christ Jesus. One filled with comforts in the Spirit, of faith and of the unseen (Hebrews 11:1. )

My loved of this world call me a fool. The decisions I make as a wife, as a mother, as a woman, and as a child of God are mocked by those I love - by my own flesh and blood. Yet, I believe they are right. I am a fool but PRAISE GOD He finds great use for this foolish vessel. Please do not take this rant as a stepping stool for victims. We are not. We are chosen. I encourage you to take your role as a woman of God seriously. Let others mock you and PRAY FOR THEM. Paul says our battles in this world are not with the flesh but with the spiritual and he is right. (Eph. 6:12 also 2 Cor. 10:3-5 for further reference) People are people. The world is the world. What makes one fool different from another is Christ Jesus. Pure and Simple.

I am a young wife, a young mother, and a young believer. I have struggled with my own decisions and my own sins. I have become a woman I never thought I would be. I have taken up the Sword of the Spirit and I fight in a battle I had no intention of fighting. And I find peace. All because of Christ.

Case in point: Ruth is a woman of diligence, delighted in her work and devoted to her family. I pray for these characteristics. When I worked in the world, I took delight in my work and I worked well. When I left that work behind and became a homemaker I was astounded with the tasks at hand. Yes the housework (i.e. mopping, dishes, dusting) are qualifying tasks for even the most intellectually challenged lab monkey but there is so much more to this job than anyone who has yet to undertake it can imagine. To manage an entire household, to rear children in the admonition of the Lord (1 Tim 2:15, Eph 6:4 - word "father" is the same greek word as parent BTW) If all of this is monkey work than I am much more dim-witted than this monkey.

Through constant prayer our gracious redeemer has helped many in our chosen role. We find great joy in tasks others deem "mundane" and "lowly". We find immense love in the blessings of our children others may call "burdens", and finally we find great love under the headship of our husbands, which others may look at as "weak" and "pathetic."

Embrace your role. Become your Ruth and wear your glory for God in this high calling. Understand that the world is the world and as fools they make themselves wise (Romans 1:22)but understand that this is the NATURAL man or woman.

Without Christ we are all fools which slip away beneath the crevices of His mighty fingers, lost and without purpose.

"according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."

Phillippians 1:20

Dating Vs. Courtship

2009-07-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

My eight year old daughter...YES EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER just asked me what it means to court. I believe she overheard my husband and I talking about dating vs courting and was honestly wondering what it was her parents had in store for her future. I hemmed and hawed for a bit. I had an idea what I wanted to say but wasn't quite sure if it would come out the way her father would prefer it to. Then I found this video clip of Joshua and Anna Duggar talking about Dating Vs. Courting. If you would like to see it check it out following this link:

http://health.discovery.com/videos/17-kids-and-counting-webisodes-dating-vs-courtship.html

Bella watched it and seemed content with the results. She still doesn't quite understand what the big deal is. All of her male buddies are just that...her buddies. But that's great! That's what we want! Especially at eight!

Top 10 Reasons to Love Summer in Arizona

2009-07-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, we live in a desert and summers in the desert can be a great test to someone's endurance. The other day, my husband and I were discussing air conditioning. Ours went out on Sunday and I found myself seeking the solace under the shade of my ceiling fan while my kids doused themselves with the garden hose outside. I should have joined them. Our air conditioning was out for maybe half a day and I was contemplating several unexplainable things in order to find comfort in some way during this long hot summer. One half day, and my world was over.

However, God answered my prayer through my very wonderful brother-in-law. Thank you Rusty. Then again the A/C went out only this time at church. It was hot but God sustained me and my family with the strength to endure it.

Normally around this time everyone sends out funny reasons why Arizona in the summertime is quite literally hell on earth I would like to turn it around a bit and recount 10 reasons why summertime in Arizona can be quite enjoyable. So here we go...

1. Monsoons - nothing brings down three digit temperatures like a great rain. And the smell of it afterward is amazing. The best air we can breathe. Purely made by the hands of God. Perfect.

2. Red sunsets after the Monsoons - take your camera out after a good rain and go for a walk. You can't take a bad picture of the sunset here. I have yet to see one. In fact, the cover picture for this site was taken after a monsoon rain. Bella and I enjoyed that walk. God makes great sunsets here. Just Beautiful.

3. Desert creatures - you can encounter several desert creatures during the monsoon season that normally don't come out otherwise. My flowerbed has become home to some frogs that only seem to make an appearance for two months out of the year and the kids are fascinated by the fancy webs of the Orb weaver as well as the spiders own zebra like pattern. The kids and I have seen a very large tortoise, a moth the size of a red cardinal, and a three inch grasshopper to name a few of our desert friends who pay us a visit. The black widow, not so much.

4. Raspados - where else in this country (besides Texas, maybe?) can you find a great thirst quencher like this. Normally found on the south side of town this little Mexican treat tastes great on a hot day. Follow it up with a genuine shredded beef taco with some limes. You won't regret it. Mexican food is to die for here.

5. Night walks - One of my favorite memories as a kid was taking a walk at night through Sabino Canyon. Watch for snakes and mountain lions! Wait - those are bad things - but the smell of the air (thanks to the monsoons) and the cool crisp weather make these a wonderful treat only to be treasured after a hot summer day.

6. Boiling water straight out of the faucet - now I have to be sassy. This is the only place I know where you truly have to be careful running "cold" tap right out of your sink; however, the plus is you don't have to spend a long amount of time boiling water on your stove top. A great way to "keep the heat out". LOL

7. BBQs - Do you ever smell your neighbor cooking barbecue and you secretly wish they would invite you over? Or show up on your doorstep with some carne seca or tri-tip and proclaim they made "way to much and would surely appreciate if you take this" of their hands? Well, here barbecues can happen throughout the year. (I love the smell of burning mesquite in the winter) But the summertime a BBQ is a great excuse to keep the heat outside your home and dinner you know is going to be good!

8. Swim parties - If you have a pool, more than likely you are one of the most popular people in Arizona at least one season of the year. Swimming is great exercise and so much more fun if you are at a friends house enjoying their company. Pack sunscreen though and lots of it! My kids don't burn, they tan if they even think about going outside. I have to admit I love kissing those little brown feet in the summer and especially love tickling the underside of their feet where their once pink skin still resides.

9. Dry clothes in five minutes - if you are one of the "primitive people" who choose not to run a dryer your clothesline will give you dry clothes in no time here. And if you happen to throw yourself in a pool solely for the purposes of cooling off just sit in a beach chair and relax. You will be dry in no time at all. That's the nice thing about Arizona. No humidity. Well, unless it rains but it still isn't as bad as Georgia or Ohio or even Florida.

10. No school or school - This one Bella chose. I have to agree. The summer breaks are a welcome treat for both teacher and student alike; however, since we are talking about summer times in Arizona I am going to have to say that most families here actually do school through the summer to keep the kids inside then take their three month vacation during the winter. Not a bad idea at all since family comes in to visit during the holidays and winters here are normally a crisp seventy degrees.

Can a Greased Frog be Given to Christ?

2009-07-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

" Answer me speedily of YHWH; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning. For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You."
Psalm 143:7-8

Do you ever have these feelings of being overburdened? Like a tremendous weight is sitting on the nape of your neck and across your shoulders. Like somehow you have become the fabled Atlas, full of your own ego and forced to carry the weight of the world as cause for your own actions?

Imagine those cares that reside on your shoulders as frogs covered in Crisco. Now try to catch them. Can you? For days, months, maybe even years now I have tried to catch these blessed frogs. I get close enough to grab them; however, no sooner do my fingers clasp around them that they slip out and hop away. So off I go snapping my hands in a hurried attempt to harness these frogs; to conquer them for good but to no avail.

These frogs can represent anything but for me they come in the form of my marriage, my finances, my ability to raise my kids and my relationship with God.
This is me, Celi, taking of my perfect plastic mask and revealing the wretched, ugly and scared creature that lies beneath.

How do you harness these cares before they become trials? And even after that?
"Simple!" any good-natured Christian would say, "Cast them to Christ! His burden is light, his yoke is easy."
For to those I quote my former pastor, "Easy preaching but hard living."
This is like handing me a map without a destination then saying, "See you there!" before taking off in your car.
"See me where?" I ask scratching my head.

What I am talking about is dying to self. Giving everything I own, everything I care about and everything I am to God. How do you do this? Honestly?

For several nights James and I have prayed to God to help us catch these frogs. Then the next day I walk around with this hope in the back of my brain that maybe, just maybe, my conquered frog will come in the form of a check from a long lost student grant with just enough money on it to pay to have the power in the back of the 4-runner fixed so sweet Mikey doesn't become sweaty Mikey during carrides. Or maybe my conquered frog might be a revelation to shut my mouth and quench my heart of my own selfish desires and seek those of my husband first.
Can my conquered frog even be the form of added patience and wisdom when my son asks me the same question for the upteenth time since the other forty answers I gave him were not suitable for his undying curiosity?
Yet finally, I hope, I pray that the frog God will catch for me, my biggest and greasiest frog, be the frog that possesses all my desires to serve and honor Him with more than all that I am. The frog that leads me to a closer relationship with my Father. The frog that will give me a deep desire to study and learn His God-breathed Scriptures.

Only then will all my other frogs be caught and harnessed within the mighty grasp of my King. In this segment I will appropriately title "Giving Your Greased Frog to God." I have no answer. No bright words of encouragement. Only a hope and a prayer that someday the solution for this dilemma will be revealed... before it is too late.

Maiden Voyage

2009-07-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

Blog 1: Introduction of the Fool

If you are reading this most likely you are a friend, a relative, a brother or sister in Christ who has someone stumbled across my page via a blatant email or Facebook Note informing you to do so. If by chance, this is you, I need no introduction because you already know me. For all others, allow me to introduce myself:

First and foremost I am a lover of Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer. Saved by His grace and washed by His blood the day He hung on the cross for my MANY transgressions. I am a woman in her thirties. The new bride of a wonderful man and the mother of his five babies all ranging from the ages of eight to still incubating.

I am a homeschooler. A conservative Christian. A struggling mother and wife and believer. I am a weaver of my home and although many times I find my job as a homemaker the most difficult job I have taken possession of to date, I refuse to accept a different vocation. Paul says that in our weaknesses God shows His strength 2 Corinthians 12:10 And I pray His glory alone be shown in mine. I am a fool and these are my ramblings....