Journal ~ Hidden Woman Link

Hello Sisters!

I would like to share with you an AWESOME tape series, that you can now download and listen to for FREE that will encourage you (it has me) in our call of being a help meet and mother. This is by Denny Kenaston, and if you scroll down to the bottom you will see he has a series called, "The Hidden Woman" which are worth their weight in gold. But, if you click on the BLUE at the bottom of the page which says "DOWNLOAD HERE" or something like that, you can download all or any of the ones that interest you. You don't have start in order, just start with what interests you. :)

http://www.charityministries.org/tape-index.a5w

Here is a scripture I found.

"Therefore we have as our ambition, to be pleasing to Him, whether absent (in heaven) or at home." 2 Cor. 5:9 That reminded me of being a Hidden Woman. :)

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Hotel California, Embracing Home, Homeschooling

The girl's in the indoor jacuzzi

Hotel California's Pool





Hello Sisters!

Our family had a great time at Hotel California a la our neighbors house. Our neighbors went to Mexico for a week and wanted us to watch their house. They have a 3 story house with the top floor Wii (game thing) and a jacuzzi tub. 2nd floor had Play Station 3, Rock Star, huge backyard, pool, jacuzzi and awesome patio. 1st floor has Play Station 2, pool, ping pong, air hockey, and a dart board. I spent my time relaxing by the pool READING with Starbucks in hand. When I wasn't doing that I was laying down with the baby. :) What did I spend my time reading...I'm reading High School Form+U+La by Shelton.

I haven't been spending a lot of time in the Word, but instead I've been singing scripture and meditating that way.

Some things He's shown me...I don't need to make money, He is able to supply for all the little extras I need and want, I just have to ask in faith. I've been thinking of extras ways to make money, which is fine, but it's not for this season in my life. I need to EMBRACE my high call of being a help meet and a mother, when I do have extra time, I need to ask the Lord to show me ways of ENCOURAGING my family members and neighbors in what the Lord has for them....that's a FULL TIME and a HALF job!!!!! I hear other moms' talk about their business on the side and the extra income, but they all say it's EXTREMELY time consuming. I'd rather ask God to send the money supernaturally and spend my extra time busy about His business (loving Him, my family and my neighbors.) So, I'm VERY excited about that! :)

Ya all know Nancy Campbell, well she has a daughter Evangeline. Nancy many times makes mention of her daughter and how all her 9 children are perfectly trained and how Vange is truly the queen of her home. Now if you read the Above Rubies magazine, you will find only a few articles by Vange (I've read 2 by her in the last 4 or so years.) She doesn't have a blog, or has a business (that I know of.) She is a very HIDDEN woman. That so impresses me and encourages me! She is not trying to make money (there will be time for that in another season) but rather she stays out of the "lime-light" and takes her job duties of a wife and mother seriously. Maybe she will take over the magazine someday when her children are grown, but now, she's a HIDDEN WOMAN. I WANT TO BE A HIDDEN WOMAN!!!! :)

Talk about money. I was just talking to Eric about us "needing" more money a few days ago when a neighbor said to him, I went to the bank this morning and felt compelled to give this to you. It was $400.00. I've been wanting professional pictures of us for 16 years, I booked a session at the beach about 14 years ago, (I don't care for studio pictures but rather like outdoor only) but cancelled because it was going to run about $400.00. Last week Eric meet a professional photographer and liked our family, is building her web site, and offered to take pictures of us, and give us whatever we want (for free) in exchange for letting her use us on her site. So, we just got back this evening from an all day photo shoot out doors at a beautiful garden/park. We started talking about Jesus and they want to come over to hear more and eat with us. HOW AWESOME IS THAT...this is JUST THE BEGINNING of the blessings the Lord wants to give to His children. IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Praise the Lord o my soul, and forget NONE of His benefits. Who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion, who SATISFIES your DESIRE WITH GOOD THINGS, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles!" Psalm 103

My youth is renewed, and I can say He does satisfy my desires with GOOD things! :)

Blessings,
Shannon

Girls Game afternoon at Starbucks




Hello Sisters!

Summer is almost over....YEA! I will soon be able close my windows and turn off the lights a little bit earlier. I will be able to go to bed before 11pm! It has been so hot here that we have to keep all our windows and doors open, which leads to neighbors coming over to "see what we're up to" at 8pm. I don't like to turn away neighbors, so...that usually means a board game, food, etc... and the night ends so late. And....because we go to bed so late, we get up late, and it makes me feel very yucky and unproductive. School is back in for most neighborhood kids in the next 2 weeks! I can't wait!!!!

Hannah decided she wants to continue with college but will only be taking 1 music class. That's o.k. with me, I mean, I 'd rather she not, she knows that, but she's almost 16 and I'm letting her move into areas where she thinks she is being led by the Lord. I do support her and as I told her, we can agree to disagree on areas, we are NOT the same person with the same mind.

My son wants to sit out of college for a semester and play flag football. He really wants to play football, but my hubby told him since he has never played football, he should try a season of flag first to get the moves down.

I said in the beginning my kids would never play competitive sports and my daughter would never go to college. I'm eating my words.

On another note...

As you can see from the picture we've been spending a lot of time at Starbucks. Our long hot afternoons have been much more productive and enjoyable relaxing with a iced latte in an air conditioned environment. That's what I tell my hubby. :) I have had some really good talks with my oldest the last few weeks at Starbucks. When the baby is sleeping in her stroller, the 2 youngest girls are reading or playing a game, Hannah and I talk about all sorts of things. Her number one item to talk about is marriage and then about how to get closer to Jesus. I'm finally feeling like, I really like this teenager thing, it's been a good thing for me! Hannah has never been rebellious or like a typical teenager, but on the other hand, I felt like there were some things missing...? Just us spending TIME together talking and baking and sitting on the porch swing together, those have been the things that were missing. Needless to say, I've slightly dropped my standards in house cleaning, and that's o.k. Hannah is almost 16, I want to spend time and make memories with her and all my other children. LIFE IS REALLY GOOD!!!!

I was being lazy this morning not wanting to get up and read the Word, but the Lord quickened in me that I can jump start myself by just PRAISING HIM. I remembered in the past, areas in my life where I needed a breakthrough. I could have studied the Word, read the Word, got out the commentary, prayed and prayed, but in many situations I just FOCUSED ALL MY ATTENTION ON JESUS and PRAISED HIM FOR WHO HE IS....that was all I did, and I ALWAYS GOT WHAT I NEEDED. Not because of me, but it's all because of Him and what He said He would do. I would like to write more, but my family needs me. Here are some scriptures to encourage you, but, if you don't want to look them up right now, go ahead and hold off. ENTER INTO HIS PRESENCE through PRAISE!!!

Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 147, Psalm 5, Luke 19: 37-39, Numbers 14:21, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 68:1-3, Psalm 9.

Have a GREAT weekend, and don't forget to PRAISE the Lord in ALL SITUATIONS that come your way! :)

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Rest may be on it's way...Today is Birthday!

Making homemade greeting cards with our neighbor




Bekah with her homemade cupcakes and bread







Hello Sisters!

We have had some neighbors over just about everyday for the last 2 weeks.....so.....it has been good, but I'm a little tired. They are gone for the next few days so I told the children we wouldn't clean for the next week (o.k., we won't DEEP clean!) and just regroup with each other.

That regrouping will have to start tomorrow because today we are celebrating my son's 14th birthday. We are going to have the party around 3pm, so the first half of this day will be cleaning! YEA!!!!

I have my Starbucks as I type this blog (Venti iced latte made with soy, add an extra shot, add whip cream) and wanted to share with you (by my DAUGHTER'S REQUEST) that she may continue college. I wrote in the last blog about her not going to college, she read it, and we had a talk. I have my opinions about college, but my most important concern is that she can hear the voice of the Lord. If she is close to Him and hears His voice and OBEYS, then I have absolutely NO PROBLEM...right? And even if she gets off track (like we all do from time to time) He is faithful. It is ALL ABOUT HIM! My hope for my family is VICTORIOUS because of HIM and His blood. THANK GOD it's ALL ABOUT JESUS and not all about us, huh?! And that is whether she continues college or not!

"And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. GOD IS LOVE, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is PERFECTED with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as HE IS, SO ALSO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. There is NO FEAR IN LOVE BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR..." 1 John 4:16-18

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Homechurch, Homemaking, A woman's nest

I call by faith, Hannah my daughter, keeper of the home.


Hello Sisters!

We have been very busy around here lately. The mornings have consisted of Jesus, chores, some reading, some math, swimming in the afternoon and neighbors in the evening. My husband said to me, "Shannon, if we were going to a religious building once or twice a week, we would never have time to get to know and serve our neighbors." One family had their whole life direction, in just a matter of days make a COMPLETE turn around. This father is meeting with my hubby on almost a daily basis and they are reading the Word together, they are digging in and asking the Lord to show them about who HE is! Our families make food together, eat together, have fun together, and most importantly, talk about Jesus.

It seems like the Lord will bring us a family in our neighborhood to heap His love on. We do this by what I just mentioned above. Then He will bring us another family, and another. Sometimes the Word falls on stony soil, sometimes it is choked out by the weeds, and sometimes it produces a bumper crop. But whatever the case may be, as we step away from these families/singles and let them start growing up (meat and potatoes as opposed to milk) we don't judge them if they continue in the Lord or not. But what we do do is continue to write them little notes of encouragement with scriptures (the girls started making their own cards..picture in last blog) and bring them desserts or food as we make them for our family. We also continue to have them over as the Lord leads or just when they are walking by our house, we'll call them in for coffee, or we'll pick something up for them we saw in the store that reminded us of them. It's SIMPLE little things. After 15 years of going to a religious building and actually working in the ministry, I have to say that BEING the church is much more effective than going to one. Now, I'm not putting church down, the most important thing we need to do is LISTEN to the Lord on where and what we should be doing and I'm sure we all agree on that. :)

Some other highlights of the week are my oldest daughter (Hannah 15) told me she thinks the Lord wants her stop college (she said she had to continue to pray about it, but I said..."why" :). YEA!!!! YEA!!!!! and YEA!!!!! I've been praying about that for a long time! When I started homeschooling 10 years ago, of course you send your girls to college, that's what all the other home school families do...right? So that is what I programmed my daughter to think. Anyway, as each day passes I see the utmost importance for my daughter's to be trained in the art of homemaking and not only homemaking, but the ability to be passionate about being a help meet to her husband. WOW!!! now that's progress in the right direction.

I gotta tell you something beautiful before I go. A year or so ago I was laying in bed with my girls and some how we got on the topic of the womb. I told my girls that their womb was a "nest" to grow babies in and how wonderful and thoughtful the Lord was in His whole plan to continue the human race. For weeks afterward (and even still today) when my girls have their tummies exposed they rub it and say, "Mom, look at my nest!" Isn't that beautiful?

Blessings,
Shannon

Greeting cards we have been making for neighbors and friends

Hello Sisters!

My girls want to spend the night at the neighbors and since they don't spend nights alone, I am going too with the baby in tow! My family is there right now eating dinner and soon to be swimming, so I can only write for a minute. We have been busy playing alot during these long summer days. We get up at 9am or 10 and go to bed around midnight....I can't wait till Fall!!!! I really do not like the summer!

Kerri said "So, the topic is the annointing of the Holy Spirit. There is an indwelling when we are believers, but do you think there is an annointing afterwards, one you need to ask for?

"Well, I was totally opposed to this baptisim in the Holy Spirit thing, but I asked for it and was speaking in tongues for I don't know how long and it felt like hot honey being poured down over my head running over my entire body."

I ask because I have been reading about this. I feel like I have no "power" as a Christian. I still yell at my children, I do not witness to people, I feel like I am just like any other joe shmoe out there, but just a whole lot more conservative than most. I hope I am making sence! Anyways some people who talk about an annointing talk about an instant where they no longer yell or what not, they have the "power" to actually live out what the Bible says. Just a penny for your thoughts on that.

"We have power as a believer ALL THE TIME because of what Jesus did on the cross. Now, if we "feel" like we have no power it's usually because we haven't been in His Word (at least that's it for me.) Even though I am Spirit-filled, just give me a few days without the Word and I am a mad, angry, yelling mom...that's the truth!!!! But when I'm feeding my spirit on the Word, I am happy, calm, and "usually" not quick to be angry. But this is ALL practice. For most of my life I have practiced having it MY way, what I want, caring for myself, my feelings, etc... I have perfected it, I became an angry, pis#$%^ off woman. Now, I am trying to practice walking in LOVE at all times in all situations, practice makes perfect! Kerri, I can go from saint-mom to satan-mom in a matter of seconds, IF I CHOOSE to go that way, it's my choice if I want to control myself of not. God has given us ALL THE POWER WE NEED TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT, it's up to us to choose to walk in it. :) Did that answer your question?

BTW, your baby is beautiful! I didn't know delivery time was so close! You look great too! :)

Blessings,
Shannon