Now that's a good Bible verse!

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalms 31:19

Our family can testify of His protection! One day, we may be able to share a story of how God protected me and two of my children from life threatening danger. 

Year Around Christmas Shopping Makes My Life Easier

Because I like to keep my Christmas a peaceful time of reflection, I shop year around for Christmas presents. I look for sales and clearance items on things I know my family will enjoy. I tend to buy mainly practical items. I like shopping online because it lets me research products and compare prices, but sometimes you can beat those deals in the store. 

As I talk with or visit people on my gift giving list, I send myself a note about things they need or would like. For example, I know three people on my list need small fire safes, so that is what I am looking for at the moment. I make notes about what interests they have, like I have a family member who loves whales, so if I find something like a sturdy wall hook in that area on clearance, I will know it will be used and appreciated. In July, I start looking for great deals on those more targeted gifts.

This practice saves me quite a bit of money and time. The cost is spread out over the entire year which is easier to manage. It also keeps me out of the crowds and away from illnesses during peak cold and flu season. I also get to slow down and enjoy my Christmas and do the things that matter to me. 

One of Our Boys

Caleb

This was taken around the 4th. He's had a growth spurt since then. He's now wider and taller.

What is a day of homeschooling at your house like?

I was asked...

What is a day of homeschooling at your house like?

Education and our home life is so intertwined; it's hard to say where one ends and the other begins.

Many people think homeschooling is "school at home" with desks and chalkboards, but it's different from that. A lot of new homeschoolers try to recreate school at home with designated school rooms with student and teacher desks, chalkboards, posters, charts, purchased manipulatives, strict schedules, etc. Classrooms are very limiting, very boring, and tend to stifle the love of learning. We do have book and computer based learning in our home, but it is a smaller part of the whole experience.

We might combine science, reading, and math by doing something practical in real life. We have had lessons ranging from watching live animal births to learning how to repair cars to practicing stitching a wound to investing in the stock market to incubating eggs and selling the chicks to pay for the feed for our chickens. We take our children camping to teach them basic survival and first aid skills. We grow a garden and raise animals to teach them hands on where their food comes from, the effort it takes to produce it, how to get it from start to table, and how to preserve it so it lasts through winter. We try to introduce our children to a wide range of learning experiences and emphasize that learning is a lifelong and exciting journey.

You might see a group of children playing in our pool while I see children socializing and getting exercise while honing a useful life skill. You might join us on a trip to the grocery store where math becomes very practical and includes a bonus geography and history lesson from a friendly veteran. A trip to see a sporting event may include estimating the gas, meals, and lodging expense and then be followed by an essay telling the story of what we experienced. That essay would become a keepsake and go into their memory boxes. Living and learning are the same in our home.

Homeschooling, in our family at least, exploits the learning opportunities that come with daily living. You could visit and not realize homeschooling is happening around you.

Because each family is unique, homeschooling will look differently from home to home. Some families need much more structure and accountability to keep them disciplined in their approach. Others thrive best with no structure at all. We have a general schedule that is just right for us without being too stifling.
The best part of homeschooling my children is that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God called me to do it. I also know He does not set His servants up to fail. I've reaped the fruit through the character and success of my oldest five children. I know God will work His will through my obedience and even my flaws as I continue homeschooling my youngest two children. His way of educating my children is turning out far better than anything I could have imagined, and I am so thankful He called me to this less traveled path!

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

God is so very good to us!

This morning, I was given a gift from the Lord. Clint saw it as a gift also, but he knew about it before I did.

Sometimes, not always, God gives us a glimpse of how He is using us for His glory. I believe the insights to His work are meant to both comfort and motivate us. 

This morning, I was told that a man who had hardened his heart to the Lord for decades was starting to ask questions. With rage in his heart, he rejected God many years ago because his wife and he suffered many late term miscarriages and stillbirths. 

Clint's and my remaining faithful to the Lord despite having the same heartbreak has helped soften his heart. WOW! With joy, I rang the bell nine times in remembrance of each of our precious little ones and how God has used them and us in another man's journey to know Him. I could write a book about what God has done through our pregnancy losses. 

Today, we give thanks that what God allowed is being used in yet another way. 

We also give thanks that God was compassionate enough to make us aware of this. Now we continue praying knowing the work God has begun will be completed!

God is at work! Despite Clint's and my many flaws and failures, God is using us in a small way. 

Can I get an "Amen!"?

Way to go Joshua and Caleb!!

Joshua was told by his boss that he is guaranteed a raise when it comes time. A raise is always a good way to compliment your hard working employees!

Joshua mentioned he had a "little" brother. His boss told him that if he works anything like Joshua does, his brother had a job. Joshua told him Caleb works harder.

Caleb was interviewed by Chick Fil A yesterday morning and hired a few hours later! He plans to work both jobs and continue college for a while. As long as his grades are good, Clint and I support his decision and will give him all of the help we can.

Caleb Made a Stand

Clint and I are very proud of our 17 year old son, Caleb. He works for a Christian founded business which is now run by an adult son. 

Caleb stood up to his employer, a 40+ year old man, and coworkers, all older than him. He asked them to stop swearing and talking about how they use women. The men apologized and immediately stopped talking like that in front of him. When they slip up, they apologize and stop immediately. 

He received his 13% raise not long after this conversation.

Do not let your age or position keep you from speaking out on what is right. You can encourage other Christians to live better and also give a testimony to those who do not know the Lord. Shine bright where you are! 

We are proud of Caleb for not being afraid to speak up and set a higher standard.

There may be more Caleb news soon.

Way to Go, Caleb!

Caleb has worked so well that he impressed his boss and earned a very early and much larger than normal raise. He was also told in front of his coworkers that he is a hard, dependable worker who does what is needed without being asked. We're proud of Caleb for his work ethic!

Brandon Travels Again

This time it is for work.

Caleb is Enjoying His Job

Caleb has been all over the place working. He's been to mansions on the water and humble abodes far out in rural areas. 

The truck he was blessed with such an incredible deal on needed a tie rod, back brakes, and a license plate light. It cost less than $150 to fix those things himself. 

Wendy's Virus Defense: Elderberry Tincture

We are blessed to have several elderberry bushes on our farm. 

Sambucus nigra is a wonderful immune system booster that helps fight viruses. Our family has been using it for a number of years with excellent results. I also use it to help control Epstein Barr Virus with success. 

We just started a gallon's worth of tincture for the coming cold and flu season. If you don't have access to elderberries, you can buy tincture and other elderberry products from Amazon. I recommend buying it before cold and flu season starts. It has become increasingly popular in the last few years which has caused supplies to run out. I've also noticed prices on the various elderberry products tend to rise during cold and flu season.

"Probably the most interesting properties of elderberry extracts were reported by Zakay-Rones et al. (1995). Following earlier work done by Konlee (1998), these authors reported that a mixture containing elderberry extract had an inhibitory effect on haemagglutinin found in mycovirus. More work done by Barak et al. (2001, 2002) have shown that such a mixture could inhibit the replication of 11 strains of the influenza virus and increase cytokines production." source

He Notices

Have you ever heard a testimony of a person's life lived for the Lord and been blown away by how brightly their life shined for Jesus? Have you ever desired for God to use you in a big way?

If you want the Lord to use you, study His Word and obey it. Remain sincere and willing to change when convicted of sin and shortcomings. Walk away from all that is worldly, and keep your focus on Him. Then, keep doing what is put in front of you.

Seek to touch the lives around you wherever you may be. Keep praying on that issue you've been praying about for so long you've become discouraged about it. Keep working for the Lord's glory where He has placed you.

There will be a great multitude of outstanding testimonies of people who never made it to a stage or had a movie made about their lives. They will be the unnoticed but steadfast people who worked faithfully and diligently doing what God told them to do. 

Keep going strong until you are in His arms! 

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7

Clint Teaching Girls Circuitry

One of Em's birthday gifts was the Snap Circuit Pro 500. 

We've bought several Snap Circuit sets over the years. These sets are very popular with homeschooling families and is one of the reasons my oldest children understand electronics so well. 

Clint enjoys teaching our children basic electronics with these engrossing sets and is easily able to expand upon them.

Em's Birthday

Em wanted a chess set of her own for her birthday. She received that among other things. I managed to surprise her by setting up for her party while she was in the pool which is surrounded by a fence. She was so busy playing with Clint she didn't notice the activity in the yard or the house.

Ask for the Discount

It's July which is when a lot of homeschooling teacher's minds turn towards curriculum ordering and lesson planning. As you prepare for your school year, keep in mind that a lot of bookstores, movie theatres, museums, art galleries, zoos, and bowling allies give discounts to homeschool students. Some places cover homeschool parents under their teacher discount. Ask at your local places to see if they have homeschool or teacher discounts. If they don't have one, suggest they start so they can attract homeschool families to grow their businesses. 

When you frequent those places, please make your children behave.

Joshua's New Job

Joshua doing so well at his new job that they took him off of training after the first day. He then started working in the spot for which they hired him. He was so good there; they changed his position and now have him opening the restaurant. He's loving it! Well, he's not liking the 9 p.m. bedtime and 4 a.m. wake up so much, but the rest, he loves!

Did She or Didn't She?

The question posed today where Clint works is "Did a bee really sting Clint between the eyes, or did he give Mama Asbell some trouble?" 

I would never hit my beloved even if I were very upset with him. 

I'd just ask him to check the hive. 😜😁🤣