Journal ~ Talking About Jesus

Hubby sleeping with youngest daughter Sophia

Hello Sisters!

Here in Southern California we are having a VERY warm fall. A few weeks ago we experienced a few days of chilly mornings and evenings so I decided to take out all the winter clothes. I should have waited a few days...the children's drawers are overflowing with winter clothes and the only clothes needed are our summer clothes. It is common to hear, "Mom....can you help me find my ______?" and this goes on several times a day.

Our bathroom which was so post to be DONE in 1.5 weeks is now going into week #3 and it's a little more than half way done. Our home is a huge dust ball with white powder showing up on the Daddy Long Legs webs near the ceiling, the t.v screen, bookshelves, and on the floor where you can feel the grit under your feet. They are working on the bathroom tile today and I have to say I think it looks beautiful, I'll put up some pics later. :)

Have you even been with a bunch of ladies and while everyone is talking you are thinking, "I want to talk about the Lord?" They might be talking about nails, babies crying, dinner ideas, laundry woes, etc... and in your mind you are thinking, how can I talk about the Lord?

After you have "TASTED and SEEN that the Lord IS GOOD, BLESSED is the man who puts his refuge in Him" you really don't want to talk about much of anything but Him. No matter where you are in life, homeschooling, homemaking, honoring your husband, loving your children, single, grandma, whatever place you are in life our desire should be to talk about our Savior, not because it's our duty, but because we WANT to! He has shown Himself as faithful to bring us through our trial and not only bring us through, but to bring us THROUGH WITH VICTORY! We came out on the other side as MIGHTY CONQUERS in Him, not defeated, but the ones that defeat, claiming Jehovah-Nissi "The LORD IS MY BANNER!" (Ex. 17:15)

Last week I was at our homeschooling art class and the ladies were talking about the weather (that means the money crisis, their sicknesses, lack of confidence in hsing and parenting, etc...) when my friend said, "I have to share a testimony with all of you that I heard." And then she went on to share about how the Lord came through for certain individuals. There is a way you can turn the conversation off of earthly things and onto heavenly things in order to glorify your Father in heaven. BTW, I'm not saying talking about "earthly things" is wrong, I do like to talk about breastfeeding, homeschooling, birth, the home, etc.... but after all is said and done it's nice to talk about Jesus because it's only Him that enables us to do all these earthly things that are part of our daily job. :)

My favorite place for testimonies is the 700 Club, on almost every episode they have at least 2 testimonies that really encourage you to put your trust in Him. I bet if you do a web search you can probably find at least a few web sites just for others to list their testimonies and testify of His GOODness.

"Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will BOAST in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7)"

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Remodeling...at least I'm honest

the bathroom we are remodeling

our bedroom (this is just about what every room in our home looks like at the present.)


Hello Sisters!

The bathroom remodel is pretty much consuming me. It's noisy, dirty, I have workers in my house, tons of flies come in, the baby is constantly trying to crawl in the room, I can't find what I need a lot of the time because all our bathroom and bedroom and homeschooling supplies have been stacked up in different corners of the living room.

Six of us are living in one bedroom (the other 2 are outside in the extra room) and since it is wall-to wall, beds, playpen, and hampers we can't even see the floor! I told my daughter that we are definitely going to start a cockroach breeding program. Why not? We're homeschoolers! What a perfect time to learn about these bugs. Let's see...we eat in the bed before going to sleep. I like apples, but my hubby likes to give the kids crackers and cheese and sometimes dip. He also lets them each have their OWN cup of not water (that would be too easy), but hot chocolate or juice. When I crawl into the bed at night my legs are scratched with the feel of cracker crumbs and/or a wet spot due to a spilt drink.

One of my daughters asked me today, "Mom are you stressed?" I said, "what makes you think that and she said, "You look like it. Your face is pale, your hair is messy and you look a little fat." My son said to me the other day, "Mom, for a fat person, you look real good!" Thank you son!

Anyway, I made my husband promise (yea right!) that he would stop this eating in bed as soon as we are back to normal. He says it's only because we are in transition and that is why he is letting the kids eat where ever they want.

The workers remodeling our bathroom were telling me about this shower "thing" that has lights and music that go on when you take a bath...not a good sign. From here on out instead of us "talking" about what I want, I am going to GO WITH HIM and pick out EXACTLY what I want in order to get it right. :)

I told my husband (notice how I am referring to my husband as "husband", and not "hubby" as I usually do?...there's a reason!) that somewhere in the bible there is probably a place that says we are exempt from the love walk during times of remodeling your house. He just gave me a blank stare and started talking to my son about football.

This to will soon pass and I will be thankful for a new, bigger bathroom. I am thankful now, don't get me wrong, did you think I was unthankful???? I'm just having a hard time.

I found this singer Jonathan Butler you can find him on Amazon.com and listen to his music samples. Go to the Worship Project and listen there. I don't really recommend christian music because there is really not anything out there that is very good...let's be honest, but Butler takes it to a level that is worthy the be called excellent...go listen and see if I'm not right!

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Bathroom remodel, Wisdom Study

Hello Sisters!

I am sitting here early morning drinking my Starbucks Iced DECAFE Latte (made at home :) while smelling hints of wet black mold. We are remodeling our bathroom and as the worker was pulling the tile from the walls and floor there was TONS of black mold (what we had believed all along.) Our house is already small, but now it is even smaller as we all gather to torment (I mean school) in the back room that is now filled with beds from wall to wall. We are tearing out walls and getting new everything, so, it won't be finished for about 2 weeks. I am going to sit on the porch swing with my hubby this morning and figure out just what we are going to do to make things easier during this time. Living out of 1 room makes it very hard, and I get grouchy when it's 95 degrees, 1pm, and the air conditioner in the room we are in isn't cold enough because the kids keep opening and closing the door! Many times yesterday I just closed my eyes and mouth, while my kids were saying, "Mom, what's wrong?" and then opened them a few seconds later to say, "I had to focus on Jesus so Mommy won't get upset........again!" I'll take some pictures and post them next week of the before and after.

We are still working through the Wisdom Unit Study by Robin Sampson at HeartofWisdom.com which is causing the older children to look within THEMSELVES and examine their own lives through their WRITING. My oldest made a small book about King Solomon and his wisdom and how he acquired it and my son made a treasure map and it told you how to go find wisdom. These are all ideas she gives in the study. It is only $15 and it can be instantly downloaded from the web site above.

Today is going to be better than the last couple of days because I am going to choose to act in a more godly way and slap my flesh back. :)

-My scripture for the week-

A person who quickly loses his temper does and says foolish things. But a person with UNDERSTANDING remains calm. Proverbs 14:17