Sing the Word from A to Z

As summer begins, I was thinking it was time to put together a list of scriptures for the girls to memorize, just like I did last year.  However, I’ve decided that this summer, we’re going to SING our way through scriptures instead!  Sing the Word from A to Z is part of our Sonlight K curriculum.  We’ve been listening to it for the last few days and it’s been wonderful!  So wonderful that I had to share. 

I’ve played this for the girls in the car and also at home, when they’re painting or drawing, as background music. 

It’s amazing to hear how fast they pick things up through music.    

There are 26 verses/songs, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet.  Every song is set to a different musical style and incorporates a wide range of musical instruments, mixed with children's and adult voices.  The tunes are catchy and easy to memorize. 

In fact, you’ll find yourself singing and humming the songs, even when your kids aren’t around.  

The CD is produced by the Harrow Family.   Steve and Anna Harrow are homeschooling parents and musicians.  They have 4 children (all of whom sing on their CDs).  The Harrows’ vision is three-fold:

1.  The bible is the focus of their work.  Unlike other songs you might have heard that are based on scripture, every song on all 6 of the Harrows’ CDs comes straight from the Word of God.

2.  They believe it is a responsibility and a privilege to teach God’s Word and to help children memorize scripture. 

3.  They believe that music is the best way to do this.  According to the Harrow’s, “We enjoy and use sounds from a variety of cultures and musical eras:  a Baroque string orchestra, a rhythmically intense Salsa band, an Irish jig, an Israeli hora.  Children love to experience this wonderful spectrum of music which reflects the richness of God’s creation.  As the Word tells us, He has called every tribe and every tongue to Praise Him!”

Good stuff!

The "Terrific" Two's

Faith & Grace.

Funny faces.

Grace is a drama queen.

Now she hides behind Faith.

Smooches!

Now Faith stands behind Grace.

Our little songbirds.

It's been a while since I posted an update of the girls and everything that's going on in their two year-old world. It seems like these days, things change so fast. Before we can get too comfortable with one stage, they have already progressed to the next. The first thing that comes to mind is all the talking that they've been doing. Right now, they ask me a gazillion times a day, "Mommy, what's that?" or "Mommy, what are you doing?" They want to know what everything is and who everyone is. In many ways, even though the girls are talking constantly, it seems like our household is a bit quieter. I'm sure that that has a lot to do with being able to communicate with words now instead of noises. We frequently hear them settle disputes between each other by asking one another, "May I hold that please?" Then we hear, "Sure or here you go." Followed by, "Thank you." "You're welcome." It's all very sweet and warms my heart when it works the way it's supposed to!

Lately, they also like to recount stories and repeat the details. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, their 7 year-old cousin Christina fell and broke her arm. Every morning since then, they say, "Christina... fell down... broke arm... big ouwie... went hospital... doctor fix it... prayed to the Lord... all better." They also ask about family members and friends on a daily basis. They love to sing and always do so in the car, when eating or playing. Their favorite song is "We Are Family" from the birthday CD that Uncle Rich made for them. It's very appropriate and super adorable when they sing it.

They love to eat waffles, french toast, cereal, strawberries, peaches, bananas, grapes, turkey, cheese, peanut butter, granola bars, chicken, broccoli, Mexican food, beans, trail mix, nuts, and of course, ice cream (it's actually frozen yogurt but they call it ice cream). Morgan likes to take them on occasion for a special treat.

They are still taking one nap in the afternoon from about 1:00-3:00. They go to bed no later than 8:00 and still wake up at 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning. It's a nice schedule and works for us.

They also love to look at the blog, especially the videos of themselves. They are learning to recite the scripture on their bedroom wall and ask to read it every night before they go to bed. They know all of their colors and now we are working our way through the alphabet. I learned from a friend to take it one letter/one week at a time. We are on the letter D.

It's amazing to see their little minds at work. They are unique with different characteristics and strengths.

Faith is detailed, tidy, intuitive, aware, smart, patient, coordinated, industrious, and loves to read books every chance she gets. She also draws really well.

Grace is easy-going, free-spirited, light-hearted, marvelously oblivious at times, has a flair for the dramatic, loves music, dancing, colors, and letters. She can also be a little shy at first in some situations.

By God's grace, they have been incredibly healthy little girls. They have only had a couple of colds to speak of. They've never even had a diaper rash!

Yes, of course, like any other two year-old, they test their boundaries and try to navigate their place in this big world. In addition to all that, the fact that their vocabulary and speech are developing everyday can sometimes lead to frustration and discontent. I guess that's why it's called the "Terrible Two's." For the most part, we think that the 2's have been great! In fact, on occasion, I've even dared to say that this is the perfect age. Obviously, that was on a good day.

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

For so much of their infant life, all us parents want to know is what and how they are feeling. Well, now we know and that's a great (and fun!) thing to understand and uncover.

I remember about 8-1o months ago, it was Faith that was my easy-going child. I used to think that God gave me Grace so that I could learn more about grace. She was much too much like me in many respects and believe me, one of me in this family is plenty. It's now switched for whatever reason so I don't presume that any of the above characteristics will necessarily stay the same in the future. It's been so much fun seeing their personalities develop and of course, the added speech and communication are at times, both helpful and hilarious.

When I sit back and have a moment to reflect, I think about how perfect our daughters are. Not perfect children (is there such a thing?) but perfect for us. How God destined the four of us to meet and grow together in love, family, understanding, and courage.

It was all in His Perfect plan. That's simply amazing and beautiful to me.

So then, if this was all in God's plan, I sometimes wonder what else He has in store for us? What other treasures, life lessons, callings, and blessings are lying ahead? What ever they are, I know that they will be far more adventurous and important than what my little mind can conceive. Trust in the Lord and reliability in His word make for a beautiful combination. I am slowly (and I mean slowly) learning to give up control because as I've shared before, everything that I had planned in my life didn't happen the way I thought it was going to. My life has taken me down a path towards so much more than I could have ever hoped for or imagined. For me, that means that life works best when I give up the reigns to the One who should be in control. There's so much more freedom in that. There's less to worry about, get frustrated over, and be disappointed in. Gently, over these last few years, God has shown me that obedience and trust = a down pouring of blessing. Yes, life is good... No, I take that back, it's Terrific!

42 Life Lessons I Want My Children To See Me Live Out

 

42 years...
 
I am so grateful for this life God has given me! 
I wear the years humbly, yet with great honor and hopefully, a little courage. 

 There are many ways to make 42 years count.
 

  Today, for my children, I'd like these to be what my life counts for the most.  
  

1. Christ is ALL; nothing else compares.
2. You are loved by a holy Creator.
3. Perfection is not attainable. Progression and growth is.
4. Of all my worldly possessions, I love your dad most.
5. You and your sister are a close second.
6. Stuff is not as important as people.
7. Put your trust in God alone. Nothing and no one else is worthy.
8. Keep learning to play that musical instrument. You will be so glad you did someday.
9. Learn to appreciate music without words.
10. Find something you’re passionate about and then do it for the Lord.
11. Live victoriously yet humbly.  You have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.
12. Allow yourself to cry, but tell yourself to rejoice.
13. God’s Word is your comfort, shield and defense.
14. Always build up your sister. She will be your BFF.
15. God is not looking for us to impress Him; He desires for us to adore Him.
16. When things get tough, don’t give up.
17. Life is short. Don’t waste it chasing after idols.
18. Count your blessings, name them one by one.
19. Sing loudly, whatever your voice sounds like.
20. Enjoy the creation but worship the Creator.
21. Know who you are in Christ.  Then believe it everyday.  
22. Hide God’s Word in your heart; own it and carry it with you.
23. Sin will never make you happy.
24. Always try new foods…there is so much world out there to experience.
25. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
26. If you’re gonna boast, boast in the Lord.
27. Treat your body kindly.  It’s the temple God gave you.
28. Learn the difference between the world’s lies and God’s truth.  
29. You can honor the Lord with any little thing you do.
30. This life isn’t all there is.
31. Joy is a choice.
32. It’s not about you. It really isn’t.
33. Don’t let pride barricade you, because it will.
34. Listen to your dad. He’s the wisest (and kindest) man I know.
35. You may not always understand God but His ways are higher than yours.
36. If you get a chance to travel the world, go. 
37. Contentment is also a choice.

38. Don’t be afraid to fail.  Some of life's greatest lessons are learned that way.
39. Take comfort in your own beautiful story. 
40. Do what’s right, even when no one’s looking.
41. Dance. 

42. Remember faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

Is blogging dead?

It’s true. Many long-time, influential bloggers are calling it quits. Why? It seems it’s become too laborious to regularly pen a provoking thought or conversation. As someone who likes to write, I get that.

Blogs have been a wildly popular medium for about 15 years but with the expansion of social media and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, some say blogging as we know it, is simply dying.

I recently went 16 days without writing a word here. I’m pretty sure it’s the longest I’ve ever gone in over 9 years. I can tell you it didn’t happen on purpose (computer issues) but during that time, I tried to embrace the silence and view it as sort of a summer break.

As a result of not having a computer, I relied more on my phone. For me, the smart phone is a convenience (and a luxury) but it certainly doesn’t satisfy any sort of creativity or expression that longs to flow from my heart. More than ever, I found myself thinking in shorter, quicker segments and therefore my conversations, attention span, and my patience began to mimic just that. With all of our modern conveniences, I find it way too easy to get swept up in the hurricane of a society that craves speed, instant gratification, and mere morsels, rather than any meat or substance.

We are far too easily pleased, aren’t we? Instead of chewing on a thought or really savoring the beauty of a story, we want the quick, condensed version so we can scroll ahead and move on. Maybe you’re even doing that now? :)

A funny thing happened while I was on my unintentional break. I desired to write even more.

In fact, as the days passed, it became clearer to me that I must write more. I realized it’s an integral part of who I am and how I process things. I usually have many thoughts and opinions on various topics rolling around in my head and sometimes, they don’t become clear until I write them down. For a long time, I feel like I’ve had writer’s block. Sure, I can easily chalk it up to “mommy brain” and the season of life I’m in right now. But other times, maybe I’m just a little afraid to share what’s really on my heart. You know, just in case someone might disagree with me or find out I’m not who they thought I was. 

So, it just becomes easier to refrain from meaningful words and record pictures here instead. At times, it’s all I’ve got. Don’t get me wrong. We love the pictures. We love looking back and remembering all the special moments of our lives.

But what about this blogging business? Is it really dead?

For many, I suppose it is. The world is just moving too fast.

For me, this little piece of mine on the world wide web has never been about business. It’s never been about followers, comments, advertisements, fame, fortune, or having a post go viral.

I’ll continue to write because I have a song to sing and a story to tell. And for a long time, maybe I let the outside world distract me or maybe I let the whisper that said your story is not interesting enough to settle in. But until the Good Lord closes this book of mine, I’ll keep on. Even if my writing is bad. Even if it’s only for myself, my family, and a small handful of friends.

I want to write more bravely and honestly. Sharing the things that stir my heart, create passion, and maybe even scare me a little. Sometimes, my perfectionism gets the best of me. It lures me into captivity and I become chained by my own fears. Before we know it, we’re immobile and our souls become cowards.

But the title of this story is called Brave Soul. And thank God, the story’s not over yet. 

 

 

Come on.  Let’s be brave together.

Lord's Prayer

Every summer, I make a list of "Summer Scriptures" for the girls to memorize but last week, I found myself without a plan or a list of verses to meditate our hearts on.  I guess that's what a 2 week vacation at the beginnning of summer will do to you!  Ha!  

Anyway, as I began thinking intentionally about this, I thought I'd have the girls memorize the Lord's Prayer instead of individual verses this summer.  Little did I know, this would only take them 2 to 3 days, not the entire summer, like I had envisioned. 

So much for my plan!  I guess they're not 3 and 4 anymore and their brains can hold so much more than I can even imagine!  Wish mine could!

Next up...  maybe Psalm 23?

A quick shout out for Sing the Word from A to Z.  I put it on the other day and it was such a blessing to hear how quickly the kids remembered all the verses from last year.  Love it!

Family Devotion & Worship

Family devotion and worship time is something we’re doing with new vigor these days, thanks in part to the Egermeier’s Bible Story Book.  Like most families, we own several children’s bible story books and most are cartoonish with the same, simple stories.  I first learned about Egermeier’s through Sonlight.  Thank you, Sonlight!

Originally published in 1923, Egermeier’s brings biblical truths alive in over 275 bible stories.  This is a meatier (640 pages) and more detailed bible story book for kids.  It does a nice job of tackling some of the more difficult issues (adultery, murder, homosexuality, etc.) in a graceful yet easy to understand way, without compromising truth.  I also love it because the stories are presented in chronological order. 

Family Devotion and Worship time is something we do almost everyday and plan to continue to do so with our children, well into their young adult lives.  Our time together goes a little something like this: 

After dinner, we sit around the table or plop on the couch and daddy leads us in prayer.  He then reads one of the bible stories and follows that up by asking several questions pertaining to that story (you can find questions at the back of the book or make them up yourself).

Once we’ve talked about the story and what God wants us to learn from it, we move on to worship time.  Sometimes we sing a song that’s related to the lesson but lately it’s been more about dance.  I think we use our TV more for music, rather than actually watching TV.  Contemporary Christian is our channel of choice (on Music Choice).  The girls know almost every song that comes on so it’s fun for them to sing along or dance with daddy. 

Our goal right now is to keep it simple.  We’re usually done in about 10-20 mins.  As the girls get older, they’ll have more questions and life experiences to draw from so Morgan and I can take more time to disciple and discuss.

Family Devotion and Worship is a small but significant time in our family’s day.  It’s something we’re committed to do without ceasing because we know one day, God will take this small act of devotion and turn it into something much bigger for His Kingdom.

Taking time together as a family, to honor and praise God, while learning from His holy and perfect Word.

What could be more important?

“Them that honor Me, I will honor.”  ~1 Samuel 2:30

Sandy Shoe Church BBQ

By God’s grace and favor, our church has acquired some new property to build upon… twenty acres to be exact!

We recently closed escrow on the land and celebrated by having a church barbeque on the new site.

We were told by our pastor, “Wear comfy shoes and do NOT wash your car this week.” :) 

 

The new land is on an old Palm Garden & Nursery.

 

 

 

We were encouraged to walk the entire property and pray over what God might build and bring to this oasis. 

 

Sweet sisters.

 

Edward, our worship leader is so good with the kids. He gave them an opportunity to sing worship songs and it was Ellie’s first time picking up the mic and singing for us!

 

The kids had an absolute blast today! They got the freedom to explore the grounds and have a ball. All they needed for fun was sticks, dirt, and a little imagination.

Our church body is growing by leaps and bounds and it was so fun to see everyone come together to celebrate what God is doing. 

We are so grateful to be a part of a loving church family that uncompromisingly teaches the Living Word of God!

Exciting stuff!!

Reflection

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it was worth taking the time to ponder for myself...

I Want... to raise my kids to love and trust in God.
I Wish... that I was more easy-going at times.
I Hate... that I tend to be a perfectionist.
I Am.... thankful for my loving husband.
I Miss... working at the golf course.
I Hear... the humming of the computer.
I Wonder... what our girls will want to do when they grow up.
I Can't Imagine... life without hope.
I Am Not... as spontaneous as I used to be.
I Sing... very badly but on a daily basis for my girls.
I Dance... around the house when I'm feeling silly.
I Cry... when I hear an emotional story about sacrifice and love.
I Am Not Always... as in control as it may seem.
I Do have... more blessings than I could ever count.
I Would... not be the woman I am today without Morgan.
I Write... to express myself and keep myself sane.
I Make... a mean guacamole.
I Confuse....my own will for God's sometimes.
I Know.... that the Lord loves me.
I Should... spend more time in His word.

CBS: A Brave New Year!

This year's theme: BRAVE

(Don't we all need more of this in our lives?? I know I do!)

We're all excited to be back!

Look at my sweet babies. :)

A wall in the kids' room.

Friends, back together again!

So happy to be here with ALL of my kids this year!

I know I've said it countless times before and I will continue to sing it from the rooftops... Community Bible Study is the highlight of our week and THE most important "subject" for us all. Academics can only get you so far. Growing in wisdom and maturity by knowing, loving, and applying God's word to our lives will equip us to fulfill God's calling and purpose.

Of course, we strive to instill all of this at home but over the years ( I think this is my 7th year??), CBS has served as an incredible partnership to that end. Plus, it's a place where the kids get to be their own person and engage with other kids. Meanwhile, I get the opportunity to fellowship with women of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds. Together, we learn, grow, encourage one another, and leave inspired.

We love, love, love this ministry!

CBS classes are available nationwide (even international!).

Check out their website if you're interested in an in-depth weekly bible study.

Thankful Thursday

Where do I even begin?? There is SO MUCH to be thankful for this week.

~BENIGN results on my biopsy!! We praise and thank you, LORD!

~The faithful prayers of my family and friends. It meant more to me than you'll ever know.

~Turkey leftovers- we had 5 yummy meals after Thanksgiving. Learned that my family absolutely loves turkey and they all requested it more than once or twice a year. :)

~A godly husband who strives to have a deeper relationship with the Lord.

He is proactive about his faith and becoming all that God has called him to be. What a blessing and encouragement to me!

~JESUS- the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. HIS NAME IS ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES! What a PERFECT example of faith, love, gentleness, and grace.

We love you, Lord!

~Advent festivities in our home. A fun time of year for all of us!

~Trials that make us stronger. Faith untested is faith unchanged.

~A God who never lets us down and always keeps His word.

~A second article published in the Desert Christian News (Dec. issue, page 24).

~Sweet little girls who love to sing, dance and worship the Lord. May it be a sweet, sweet sound to Your ears, Father.

~A closing escrow date of January 20th. Looking forward to celebrating the last Christmas in our blessed home.