A new book!

Nathan and I are beginning a new book together. Our last read was a marriage book, which - I don't know why God graced us in this way - was, by far the best book on marriage I've ever read. It was all about the gospel. Every square inch of it breathed gospel. It was incredibly refreshing, realistic, helpful, and encouraging. I LOVED it!
Oh! What was the book? "What Did You Expect?" by Paul Tripp

But on to the new book we're reading. It's written by a Christian counselor (Paul Tripp is also a Christian counselor - I don't know why we tend to love what is coming from this field of labor right now, but we DO). I'm not familiar with Elyse Fitzpatrick, but as we've been waiting for the book to arrive, I've read snippets here and there of her work and have seen a few interviews of hers as she explains what her book is about. I'll put a link to one of the interviews. It's a long one, so I'll tell you that the portion more relevant to parenting is at the 31 minute mark, and then, after that, you won't be able to turn the interview off. She has such a different mentality for parenting, and I LOVE it! I love the language she uses, and gospel, gospel, gospel rolls off her tongue so easily.
Elyse Fitzpatrick on the Gospel and Parenting


Also, I wanted to add one of the first paragraphs that I read in the book. It really causes us to question as parents what we want to see most in our children. Do we want to see them as obedient little ones or as little ones driven by the gospel?
Just in the forward (written, not by Elyse), we see the message take shape.

What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donal Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio. Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philedelphia (the city where Barnhosue pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached.

- Christless Christianity, Michael Horton

Looking forward to the book, especially in the face of parenting woes I'm experiencing these last few weeks. I am seeing how my expectation for right behavior, even Biblical behavior is not enough for these children. They need more. I want to give them grace. Oh! And the name of this book? Give Them Grace, Dazzling Your Kids with the love of Jesus. Very excited!

Summer Saturday

The children are outside having the time of their lives in a cute little swimming pool I scored brand new from Goodwill. $7.50. Am I thrilled? Yes. Are the kids loving it? Yes.
Every time I get the whale's blow hole going really good and strong, I find Ben all the way in the neighbors' yard. I think he doesn't like that part so much.
We have a huge grocery trip planned today. I hope I survive. I hope THEY survive. Grocery shopping with the children always leaves me a lot fried.
After a few other loosely planned ideas for the rest of the day (including an essential NAP), we're going to the CityFest, which is always a high point of our summer. The fourth Saturday of every summer month, the community puts on this shindig with bounce houses, live bands, catered food, games, and lots of other creative fun stuff, and it's all free. Once it begins to get dark, they show a movie on a huge screen in the middle of the field. We have been at least 5 times, and we LOVE it! This month, Great Clips is offering free haircuts for kiddos 12 and under. Wow! That is so neat!
Anyway, busy Saturday. Lot's of fun planned for these children who are now naked, out of the pool, and needing some guidance in getting dressed for the day.
Grace to you!

Curriculum for next year

I need to wrap my head around this, and so I'll try to write it here. What will I do when I have 3 in homeschooling? Will I be able to remember it all? For Grace and Ben, this Summer we'll be going over the Doorposts charts that we just ordered. We'll be reading over the books, writing memory verses and trying to work through the following charts:
"Go to the Ant"
"Brother Offended"
"Blessings Chart"
"If/Then Chart"

I'm also in the process of ordering curriculum for this fall
Right now I'm looking at the following:
Math: Christian Light, Grade 1
Language Arts: Rod and Staff Nurture, Grade 2
History: The Story of the World
Science: Complete Book of Science (which I've learned is no longer being published, so we may have to rethink this!)

The Lord Hates

Today, not much to write. Not much for a long time, I know. I wanted to write this out in-between nap times as I'm working through planning how we disciple our little ones. I am so burdened for their hearts. We recently found a wonderful chart that I hope will help them to see how their behavior relates to the condition of their hearts. One of the verses on the chart is about having their eyes plucked out by an eagle. It's a verse on violence. I'm hesitant to dismiss or sweep any scripture under the rug for my little ones, but I thought, maybe I could find one that was more PG but still met the need of denouncing violent behavior (ie. hitting, kicking, biting, throwing). The closest verse I've found was this, (and I've shortened it so it will fit on a one lined handwriting sheet, another reason I was looking for a different verse) - it was, "Those who love violence, The Lord hates."
The Lord hates.
Oh my poor ones. what pain their heart must feel when facing this verse. They haven't even read it yet, but we will read it, and we will weep, and we will talk about how sweet, sweet Jesus is, in light of every thing their hand has done. It is a painful, awkward task, showing a child how ugly their sin is, how the Lord hates them in their sinfulness (and yet wants to love them if they will let Him). I am so looking forward to the day they fully embrace the gospel, and walk totally affected by it.
Back to working toward that goal!
His Grace to you... (if you still read this occasionally!)

Quiet

It's been quiet for some time now, at least here on the blog. At home we are full of stomping feet, squealing giggles, and mostly happy children. But we're still sitting quietly these days, amazed at God's goodness, amazed when we look at what we deserve and compare it to what we get. We get God! We get an amazing, holy, mighty, glorious God. How thrilling! Just in considering what He has given us, tears well up within me. These children are amazing, and they are growing up so well, by the grace of God! Nathan is experiencing grace in his work and in the way he is growing as a man, husband, and father. I am beyond blessed to be able to be home with my children, and over the last year have developed some precious friendships that I will always be thankful for. Our church body is growing, and not simply in breadth but greatly in depth. We see a people wanting more than self gratification, but these people genuinely want GOD! They want to seek and savor the Christ, honor and obey His Father, and plead to and know The Spirit. And it shows. Sometimes I just have to stand back and take a look at everything God is doing and what He has done, and it takes my breath away. I just am amazed (and I shouldn't be!) that He is giving us His precious self for our good! He is, even as slight a thing as we are.
So, no matter what logistical issue we're dealing with this week, be it potty training or car repairs or money struggles, we can stand joyful and in awestruck silence. We can choose to let momentary struggles receive momentary status in our hearts and be overwhelmed and overjoyed by eternal truths. So today, we can be found sitting, watching, learning in this joyful quiet.

It's been a while

The children are all sleeping, and I am thankful! Thankful that the Lord is giving us opportunities to grow and learn. Thankful that the children are all growing and learning and mostly happy! Thankful that we have food on our plates and a roof over our heads. Thankful that the Lord is using us in the community in lots of unconventional ways. Thankful that we are connected with other believers. Thankful that I have a moment to think and pray every day (sometimes this moment is 15 minutes, but I am thankful!). Thankful that the children in our home are learning about the Lord. Thankful that I don't have to be perfect. Thankful that the Lord is our fortress and that we can run to him in trouble or just because. Thankful my father returned safely from a dangerous place. Thankful for so much more, but I think I heard a peep from upstairs.
Grace,
Andrea

Tip O' the Day!

So, I have this tip for you, and since I have the time (yeah right!) and I never post anyway (sorry!)... I thought I'd at least do SOMETHING with this blog.
Before now, I had never had wood floors. I didn't know how to clean them. I didn't know how to care for them. I didn't know a stinking thing! So when the wonderful ladies from our church came to help me clean the eve of our move in, I watched carefully and asked lots of questions.
Today, I have my own way of cleaning the wood floors. It usually involves naptime for all toddler feet. I've seen some purchase the spray on or the squirt on wood soap. I've also seen some pour the concentrated solution in a bucket, mix with water, and mop, but what happens to all that soapy water when all is said and done? I purchase the orginal concentrated Murphy Oil formula, mix it with water according to the directions, and store it in a spray bottle. The Murphy Oil will last me over a year, I'm sure. I think the spray bottle usually lasts me about 4 or 5 cleaning sessions. After I do a deep sweeping of the room, I spray the cleaner onto the floor and wipe it off. Simple (except for the toddler feet part!)
Now, I'm guessing there are a lot of ladies out here who do that, and to those of you who do, sorry! For a new-to-wood-floors lady like me, this has been a work in progress. So I'm glad to have found something that works!

Grace!