Reminders

A friend of ours lost their little girl this week.  She drown in the neighbors swimming pool.  I went to the viewing tonight, and was once again reminded that children are not really "ours".  We are called God's children for a reason.  We as mothers, are just here to raise and love them until its time for them to go home.  Unfortunately, for our earthly bodies that's really hard to comprehend.  Its so easy to be saddened by the fact that "our" child has been taken away, when in reality we should be rejoicing that they no longer have to suffer and they beat us to eternity.  I can honestly say the comforting feeling I've had as a mother was the moment I was holding my dying child as she took her last breath, as horrible as that sounds, there was this awesome peace and serenity come over me that she was really "ok" now.  Actually she's so much more than ok!
  It so easy, to replay everything in your head over and over again, what could I have done different, if only I had done this, I should have spent more time with her........... But in the end, I really did do my job, I got her to heaven, and that's all that matters. 

Showers of Blessings

Oh, my goodness!!!  I don't know about anyone else, but I praised the Lord all morning for lifting the heat for awhile!  I opened the windows and turned off the air conditioner in what seemed like forever!  It was soooo nice! 
  School has been going wonderfully!  Derek is finally getting into a routine and Lindsay is participating nicely in her lessons as well.  They both are just doing amazingly well at piano!  I wasn't going to start Lindsay just yet, but she has really taken to it quite nicely. 
  My sister and I practiced our song we are to sing on Sunday for church today.  The harmony worked out really well.  I was worried about the song at first, but I think it has come together now.  I really wish we could sing more often together.  And one day I hope to get my children involved in performing. 
  The kids are going to have a (bike) rodeo at church for youth group on Wednesday night, so we went and picked up a new bike for Derek from a friend.  His other one has just fell apart, and his big boy bike, is just to big yet.  We're supposed to decorate them up for a cowboy theme, I'm not quite sure how to make a bike look like a horse, but I'm sure we'll come up with something!  And while my kids are with the younger youth, Ronnie and I are supposed to be helping with the teens.  They are going to be having "sofa wars".  For anyone who is not familar with this term, here are the details.  You split into teams.  Each team has a van to ride around in and a truck to haul their sofa in.  They are given a list of places to get their picture taken in front of sitting on their sofa.  Each desitnation is worth so many points and few places deduct points!  It should be very interesting!!  I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out!
  Then Friday night, we how our homeschool group kick-off!  I'm also looking forward to getting back in touch with all the families from our area that have the same values as Ronnie and I.  It's very important for mommy to have adult time as well as the kids to have that socialization!
  Well I should probably hop off here and head to bed.  Good night :)

Tomorrow's a New Day!!

  Well, this afternoon was kind of rocky....and I'll just leave it at that, because I had pretty well of brought it onto myself.  But just as Avalon sings "Tomorrow's finally here.....It's a New Day, oh it's a new time and there's a new way.  I'm gonna live my life..all the old has passed away".  I think that my greatest pleasure in being a christian, is every day is a new day.  And no matter how bad today was, Jesus will still love me and he's going to give me a new slate tomorrow. 
  I'm really starting to enjoy it just being me and the kids during the day.  I was really apprehensive about giving up my babysitting, but I can really see improvements in my kids! 
  I took Lindsay yesterday to get her ears pierced and she did so well!!!  She only screamed right after it was done because the lady got the gun stuck on the back of her earring.  She has whined about me cleaning them, because she's terrified that they are going to come out and "the lady told me not to take them out for 6 minutes!!" (translated 6 weeks)
  I started Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons with Lindsay and she has really taken off!  I had read on a blog one of my friends suggested (http://www.raisingolives.com/) and she uses the same book with her young children and just leaves out the writing part until they are little older.  Lindsay really has liked the idea of learning her sounds and is excited about being able to read. 
  Derek completed his first song in piano lessons the other day!  He called his grandma and played and sang it to her. 
  And Leah finally rolled over from her stomach to her back!!!  She's 6 months old and weighs 12 lbs now! 
  Well, I have much to be thankful for!  I'm going to rest now and try to have a better attitude for my new day in the morning!

TV or Not TV???

  Well, it's almost time for us to start school.  Friday night will be our last night of VBS, which the kids were awesome tonight by the way!!!  (Including my own, they have mommy withdraws alot, but they stayed with their own class all night!!!).  We've had our visit to the doctor this week and the two older kids went to Holiday World with their two aunts and cousin on Monday.  They had an absolute blast!!!  I was so happy they were good too! 
  I've had a rough patch lately.  I've been struggling with how God would really have us parent using televison today.  I feel like their are two kinds of "christian parents", and I've been praying alot which one is the right way......and maybe they are both right and I need to be praying which is the right way for my family.  Let me explain what I mean:
  First parent:  The parent that believes in what I would call "mostly conservative" and allows their child to watch and participate in what they believe to be age appropriate.  This is the parenting style I think I am participating in at the moment.  For example.  I let my kids watch alot of tv, and right now my son is obsessed with Avatar: The Last Airbender.  However, I'm starting to question whether or not to allow him to continue watching such shows.  I've been told by several people I trust and look up to, that as long as I competely explain that these shows are make believe and what is actually true when it comes to God, it's ok to let him view these shows.
  Second parent:  The parent that believes in what I would call "completely conservative" and allows little to no tv.  And I really like what I see from these parents, however, is this completely sheltering? 
  I am in no way bad mouthing what each parent has decided to do and I commend you for standing up for what you believe.  I guess I'd just like to hear how it works for you and what the long term effects will be. 
  I was allowed to watch tv as a child, but my mother did withhold alot of "bad" movies and I never once thought I was missing out on anything until I became older and people would refer to things I had no clue what they were talking about.  However, looking back I'm starting to think she was on the right path with this.  It has irritated my husband in the past when he has to explain things to me, since I had not seen a certain movie, but now with our children getting older, he's starting to understand.
  I know a lot of people would shrug me off to be worrying about something so small, but I just don't want to look back and wish I had done things differently.  I want to raise my children to be conservative, loving, christians, however, I do want them to experience life to the fullest, I believe that's why God gave us such a beatiful creation. 

  Anyway, I'd love to hear what your family believes and does????