Pink eye, burping and other such things

The dreaded super virus (you know, the one causing epidemics in 49 states) has been camped out at our house for several weeks now. It just doesn't seem to care that it is most certainly an uninvited guest and has overstayed its welcome.

Pink eye has taken up residence as well. Poor Connor. Of course his last basketball game is tomorrow. We're praying for a quick healing, but using this as an opportunity to talk about when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want. In between his tears yesterday, he asked, "Mom, do you think God may be wanting to see how I will act if I don't get what I want?" I hugged him tight. Such wisdom tied up in that little eight year old heart.

On to other things...can your children burp the alphabet? Mine were practicing yesterday. I must say that as a female I JUST DON'T GET IT...not even a little bit. I guess the next time I'm tempted to compare myself to other homeschool families who "have it all together", I can just say, "Yeah, but can your kid burp his spelling list?"

Have we forgotten?

We all remember where we were the day the World Trade Center fell. The day the Pentagon became a memorial. The day, over a field in Pennsylvania, ordinary people became heroes.

In the days that followed, flags flew proudly and we stood together, united as no other nation on earth could unite. We loudly proclaimed, "We will not forget!".


Life has returned to normal for most of us since that fateful day...at least for those of us who did not loose someone dear to us. We've gone about our lives, business as usual and once again taken for granted that we are safe.

Have we forgotten? Do we feel the same patriotism and connection to our neighbors we did that day? Does our heart well with pride and thankfulness when we see a soldier in uniform? Does our flag still wave proudly from every corner and building?

Sadly, I believe the answer is yes, we have forgotten to some degree. The horror we felt as we watched the towers crumble has become a distant memory. The pride that swelled in our hearts as we heard the words, "Let's roll" has faded.

For the sake of the 2,974 lives lost that day, we must not forget. For the sake of the children who will not know a parent, we must not forget. For the sake of the spouses who now sleep alone, we must not forget. For the sake of the parents who have outlived their children, we must not forget. For all of them - we must not forget.

Nanny nightmare

Watching Fox News last night, I found myself gasping out loud at the footage being shown of a nanny gone bad...very bad.

How could a human being treat a baby the way this woman did? Does she not have a conscience? It is absolutely reprehensible and she should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Of course she will most likely cry 'foul' and hide behind her right to privacy.

My two cents? She should have no right to privacy. She was in someone else's home. Does the government have the right to censor what I do in my own home? The mom who hired this woman has every right to do what she must to protect her children - even video taping. How else can the rights of the babies be protected when the very person hired to care for them turns out to be a nut case?

I shudder to think what might have happened had she not been caught.

That's all I have to say about that...

The joys of yard sales!

Since moving to Texas, I've gone through a bit of a yard sale slump. They just don't seem to be as prevalent in this part of the country, at least in our neck of the woods. Boy, that sounded Southern, didn't it?

Today a friend was having a sale, so I bribed the kids with donuts and got them out of the house early. After spending a few minutes at my friends' house, we headed down the street and made a stop at her neighbors.

Within 30 seconds of getting out of the car, I had struck up a conversation with the owners of the house. Yes, I do that often. Would you believe they were from Idaho, just up the road from where we use to live? What a small world! We enjoyed some great conversation about "home".

Here's the best part - I walked away with nine shirts/sweaters, four skirts and two pair of pants for ONLY $20 and they all look brand new!

Oh how I love a good deal.

Just one more day

Are you majoring in the minors this morning?

Are you more concerned with your 'to-do' list than smothering your husband and children with hugs and kisses?

Are you blogging when you should be spending time with your kids?

Would you change your perspective if you knew you had only one more day with them?

Check out Lori's post...then thank God for 'just one more day'.

I know I am.

Total lunar eclipse TONIGHT

Why not do some science tonight after dinner? Step outside and check out the total eclipse of the moon.

A lunar eclipse is when the moon, Earth and sun are all in perfect alignment. This alignment casts the Earth's shadow on the moon, blocking out the light of the sun. The moon may appear red, as bits of light given off by the Earth's sunrises and sunsets reflect around the edges of our planet.

Events like this are just one more bit of evidence of an amazing, perfect Creator.

Memorization Monday

Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each others faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit and bind yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Disturbing news about Oprah

Newsflash - Oprah is NOT God!

I received a disturbing e-mail this morning about some new teachings of Ms. Winfrey. My first response was cautious, until I did some checking of my own. My understanding of Oprah's background was that she was raised by Christian parents and believed in the One True God of the Bible. If that is the case, she has strayed completely the other direction in her belief system and is in serious need of our prayers.

On Oprah's website, she is offering a year long "Course on Miracles" taught daily by Marianne Williamson. I have not read each daily teaching, but here is one excerpt from today's lesson.

You think with the Mind of God. Therefore you share your thoughts with Him, as he shares His with you. They are the same thoughts, because they are thought by the same Mind. To share is to make alike, or to make one. Nor do the thoughts you think with the Mind of God leave your mind, because thoughts do not leave their source. Therefore, your thoughts are in the Mind of God, as you are. They are in your mind as well, where He is. As you are part of His Mind, so are your thoughts part of His Mind. (Marianne Williamson)

This circular teaching flies directly in the face of the Bible. Though the Holy Spirit allows us to understand spiritual things, no one can know the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11 clearly states, "Who can know the thoughts of another person? Only a person’s own spirit can know them. In the same way, only the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts."

A few more excerpts from Ms. Williamson's teaching:

"There is no sin . . . "
A "slain Christ has no meaning."
"The journey to the cross should be the last "useless journey."
"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."

Throughout the course, participants are being brainwashed through daily repetition of phrases such as "I am the light of the world (lesson #61) and most disturbing "There is nothing my holiness cannot do" (lesson #38). Students of Ms. Williamson are retraining their thinking to convince themselves that because God is in them, they are God. The very idea sends chills down my spine.

Writing for Crossroads.com, Warren Smith states,

"Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is “in” everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life."

I could literally spend all day and into next Tuesday refuting the incredibly ignorant teachings of Ms. Williamson, but instead I will ask that we pray against the lies being studied by the participants of this class. They are being led down a dangerous path completely away from the Truth. These are lies from the enemy disguised to look like truth.

Oprah has a large following of women who hang on her every word. They have elevated her to a position of authority and trust her not to lead them astray. She is careening down a dangerous path and dragging countless women with her. 2 Timothy chapter three gives us a good description of what is taking place.

They (speaking of false teachers) are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth. And these teachers fight the truth...Their minds are depraved and their faith is counterfeit.

Oprah is invited daily into the homes of millions of women. She has won their confidence and has a profound influence on the way they view the world.

Pray also for Oprah. To whom much is given, much is required. She has an incredible amount of influence on our society and should be using it to point others to the Truth. Each of us will be held accountable for the words we speak that influence others.

Lord, help us all to be able to give an answer to those who are seeking the Truth. May all that we do illuminate You to the world around us. May your light shine brightly in the dark places and expose the lies of the enemy for what they truly are. I pray for the participants in this class, that the blinders would be removed from their eyes and they would see clearly. I pray against the lies the enemy is perpetuating in the minds of those reading these lessons. Show each of them the Truth and expose the lies for what they are. For those that are truly seeking you, make yourself very real to them today.

Hope through the eyes of a blogger

Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer is one of several bloggers chosen by Compassion International to travel to Africa for ten days and blog about the relief efforts in Uganda.

Think you've got it tough? Check out Shannon's post as she describes meeting a single mother of five living in a six foot by eight foot room and selling fried plantains to support her family. Or read the description of a mother's whose young son lays sick with sickle cell anemia. They live in a small home with a dirt floor, yet it is kept spotlessly clean.

Seeing these things so closely through Shannon's eyes stands in stark contrast to the things I allow myself to get upset over. I lament the fact I don't have enough alone time, while these women are fighting for the survival of their families. Wow. How selfish can I be and still breath?

Take a moment to look deeply into the eyes of these African children. Hear their stories and be challenged to change. I know I have been.

Target special - free therapy

Today I left the house by m-y-s-e-l-f. Did you get that? Read the last two words again - by myself. I ran errands, browsed the homeschool section of the library and perused the clearance shelves at Target without having to worry about another human being.

No one had to go potty.

No one wanted a drink of water.

No one asked to go look at the toy section.

It was an hour of heavenly peace and quiet as I wandered about and thought of nothing in particular. Not answering 2,897 questions in the span of one hour was a relief to my weary brain.

Window shopping at Target = free mommy therapy. Hmmm...maybe I need to get out more.

Moving day in the Blogosphere

It's moving day! Hop over to After a cup of coffee...or two and see what's going on. Christy is hosting The Big Bloggy Move to showcase bloggers who recently started a blog, redesigned an existing blog, or moved to a different blogging platform. It's a great way to meet new blogging friends.

November 2005 - I had never heard of blogging. No, I don't live under a rock, but maybe I do need to get out a bit more.

I read an article in The Old Schoolhouse magazine and I guess you could say I was intrigued. I checked out Homeschool Blogger and was immediately hooked. HSB was a great way to get my blogging feet wet. I learned the ropes and made some neat friends in the process.

December 2007 - Decided to venture outside of HSB and check out some other blogging platforms. I made the move to Blogger and have been thoroughly happy with my new digs. Moving my blog was much easier and less painful than moving my family 2,000 miles across the country, but that's another post for another day.

If you're a first time reader, leave me a note. I'd love to hear from you!

A Thirst Quenching Look at Philippians

Do you ever feel as if joy is a rather elusive emotion? How does joy differ from happiness? So often, the words are used interchangeably, but in reality they are worlds apart. Looking deeply into the words of Paul written to the Philippian church, we see the true source of joy - knowing above all else why we were put on this earth and living our lives solely for that purpose.

I recently chose an awesome book to use for our ladies Bible study by author Tianne Moon. Using an inductive study approach, Tianne leads you through the amazing New Testament book of Philippians, verse by verse. Don't let the word "inductive" scare you. Unlike other studies I've done, Tianne dovetails the inductive details beautifully with real life application. She gives you the tools to pose the questions yourself and then guides you to dig in and learn on a deeper level. I find myself excited to jump in each morning.

Have you ever noticed when you're teaching something you often find more opportunities to 'practice what you preach'? This past week has been full of opportunities for me to choose joy. Though incredibly challenging, I am thankful for the chance to "count it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance..."

If you are thirsty for more of Him, let me encourage you to dive in and drink deeply of this amazing study.

Free stuff - Great Bloggy Giveaway

Who doesn't love to get something free? The Great Bloggy Giveaway is coming soon. I'm usually not one to jump on bloggy bandwagons, but I'm thinking it might be fun to participate this time.

Having said that, what would you, my two readers, like to win? My first thought was a Starbucks card, but I realize that lacks a bit in the creativity department. The trip to Maui is out, as is the lifetime supply of chocolate, but seriously...any ideas?

Today I choose

Life is about choices.

This morning I decided what time I would get up, what sort of coffee I would drink, what clothes I would put on, whether or not I would have that second cup. The list is endless.

Some choices we make without thinking. The decision to have coffee is a non-decision for me. There will always be coffee in the morning. The decision to start my day in the Word has become a habit, so that is essentially a non-decision as well.

Other things in our lives require daily, sometimes hourly choices. Scripture tells us to be thankful for the trials in our lives because of the faith produced as a result. The NLT says specifically, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an OPPORTUNITY for joy." (emphasis mine) Did you catch that? There is an opportunity for joy, but it doesn't come without decision on our part. We must choose joy. We are given the option to approach our circumstances with a grumbling, complaining heart, or being thankful for the resulting growth. Knowing a difficult circumstance will result in positive results in my life is certainly a reason for joy. It all goes back to choices.

Love is another choice we make. How easy it is to love others when they are being kind to me, but do I love someone when they gossip about me? Do I love someone when they cause conflict within our church? Not so easy then, but still a choice. Colossians 3:14 reminds us to put on the garment of love. I must choose to put on love. There's that word again.

It's easy to get up in the morning and put on my favorite shirt...the one that is just the right color and makes me feel great. What happens when all my favorites are in the laundry and I'm left with the orange Bronco sweatshirt from college? Not so easy to put on that which I don't care for is it? Despite how I might feel, I must choose to love if I am to be like Christ. That includes the people God brings into my life who are not so lovable.

Coffee? That's an easy choice. Love and joy? Not so easy, but with lasting eternal impact.

When Mom ran

Ran around all morning attempting to finish school by lunch. Didn't happen.

Ran to Wally World to get a new ball for the P.E. class.

Ran to the park just in time to begin kickball.

Ran to the car 10 minutes later in a downpour.

Ran home in a hail storm to find my windows open and my carpet sucking up water.

Ran to the attic to fetch the fans to dry the carpet that sucked up the water.

Ran to the kitchen to make two batches of cookies to deliver to yesterday's church visitors.

Ran to the store to fetch more flour to finish the cookies to deliver to the visitors.

Ran to my chair and SAT.

Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday, the day touted by many as a "make or break" point for several candidates is already in full swing. Though I have my opinions, I have no idea who will emerge the front runner once the votes are finally tallied across the country. You will most likely find me glued to FOX News coverage well into the evening.

Despite the fact that we have no idea as to the outcome of this momentous day, I trust completely in the One who knows all things. He is in our yesterdays, as well as our tomorrows and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End. In a world of considerable uncertainty, I take great comfort in those facts. In trusting Him completely, we needn't worry about the outcome.

It may be Super Tuesday, but thankfully we serve a Super God who supercedes all else.