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The Butterfly & the Bee: A Plan for Peace

Hope's Lesson Plan: Day with Daddy! My Lesson Learned: The plan for peace My Sexy Tree Man came back from a work trip last night, so he graciously took the kids for the morning while I helped to lead a field trip for my alma mater. Upon my return, Hope cozied up to me (I might have bribed her with salami), and I asked her what her favorite part of the morning had been painting. She continued with, "But my painting was ugly. I wanted it to be a butterfly, but it turned in to a bee." Of course, I immediately said, "Honey,sometimes, we have a picture in our mind of how things are going to look, but they turn out differently. But guess what? It's still beautiful." Isn't that how our lives are? I look back 10 years ago to the picture I had in my mind of where I would be today: coaching at an elite level, traveling often, and in fantastic shape. My butterfly. Today's picture is much different: managing 3 little people, endless loads of laundry, but also lots of love. My bee. Different, but still beautiful. After reflecting on this today, the Lord brought Jeremiah 29:11 to mind. " 'For I know the plans I have for you,'declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and hope.'" The words welfare and hope really stuck out to me today. In the original Greek, the word welfare is "shalom." This can be translated to completeness (when referring to numbers), soundness (of body), welfare and peace. My pictures of what my life should look like were not about giving me peace, but what I thought the desires of my heart were at that time. But God's plans are about the peace of my life, and Jesus even gives us his peace in John 14:27. The word hope is "tiqvah" which can also be translated as expectation. God's plans not only gives me peace, but also an expectation for future peace! He knows what I need even when I can't paint that picture in my mind. Thank you Lord for your peace!

Llamas & Mountains

Hope's Lesson Plan: Nature Day (Feed llamas, creek walk, play outside) My Lesson Learned: Enjoy the View My parents own a parcel of property within the city limits that is part wooded and part pasture land. On the pasture land, they have arranged it with their neighbor to work together and foster llamas. When they first told me they were planning on doing this, I thought they had lost their marbles! However, apparently there is a growing need for rescuing llamas, and their herd began as 3 and has increased to 7 in only a few months. As you can imagine, the llamas cause much curiosity and wonder amongst small children so visiting my parents house has become a fun playdate with friends. Today, the kids fed the llamas, and then took their buddies down to the creek. The kiddos splished and sploshed through the water with their nets. They were in awe of the water striders, minnows, sticks, rocks and woodpeckers. We had fun talking about insects and enjoying getting wet. Hunter was the most exuberant, "Look Mom, I caught a strider!! No, I caught TWO striders!!" Oh, to be four again! To notice the awe and wonder of creation. To stop and sit and listen. As I was reciting my memory verses today, Matthew 5:1-2 caught my attention (or rather the Holy Spirit had it catch my attention!): "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:" Jesus sat down! Perhaps he wanted to rest, or have time with those closest to him to teach them...I don't know, but he sat down. He went up on a mountain and sat. I've climbed up a few mountains, and one of the reasons (okay maybe the only reason!) I have done it is for the view. To enjoy the majesty of a creator who formed mountains, and also the tiniest of ants. I know today that God is teaching me that I need to sit down and enjoy the view. Enjoy His creation, and the beautiful little blessings that He has entrusted in my care. Thank you Lord!

Jammed CDs & Delighting in Me

Hope's Original Lesson Plan: Creative Day (draw at zoo, library, read books). Revised Lesson Plan: Creative Day (chores, draw at home, library, books) My Lesson Learned: He takes great delight in me despite my shortcomings This morning, as I am packing up the car with colored pencils, notebooks and snacks, Hunter has to potty (of course!). We are headed to the zoo to draw the butterflies in the butterfly garden (believe me, it sounds good, but we really only draw about 10 minutes and then the kids are running around and getting in to everything). As I go back into the house Hadley got out of her seat (which I am sure she was extremely proud of!) and playing with the CD player. I came back out to find the car stereo inoperable and 3 library CDs jammed in to the CD player (at least that's where I hope they are!). Patience is by far one of the fruits of the spirit that God has been trying to manifest in me since my children were born (okay, maybe since I've been born!), but my humanity was not having it today! I was frustrated and quicly angered. Yes, the verse, "A gentle word turns away wrath" popped in to my head and almost as quickly flew out! My impatience took hold of my mind and I angrily told my children that we were not going to the zoo today. Instead, we were staying home and doing chores for the morning. I regretted speaking so angrily, and did apologize for my words, however, I have found myself with a quick tempered spirit most of the morning. At one point, the Lord urged me to send an encouraging verse to a friend--it was actually the verse I needed to hear (funny how He does that!). "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing," Zeph 3:17. I love words, and I am very much a "semantics person," which is why I love researching what each word means. As I studied this verse again today, and I was struck by several things: "The Lord," in the original language Yehovah, otherwise known as Jehovah, the Existing One. The God who was and is and is yet to come, is speaking to His people. He is letting the Isrealites know that He is with them. The word qereb is what is translated as "with you" and can also mean "in your midst" and part of its definition is "as the seat of thought and emotion." God is right there with me in my emotions and thoughts. Every thought can belong to Him (2 Corinthians 10:5) if I am obedient to Him (and listen to the verses that the Holy Spirit puts in to my mind instead of quickly pushing them away!). Not only is Jehovah in His people's midst, but He is might to save. Some translations state, "a mighty warrior." In its original language it is a strong liberator! Lord, please liberate me from the stronghold of my anger and harsh words today. He liberates every stronghold! And despite His people's strongholds, He takes "great delight in you," which means to display joy. But, what is joy? According to Dictionary.com, joy is defined as, "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good [ha, not me!] or satisfying [bingo!]." He delights in me because He is satisfied with me because of His son's sacrifice! This great joy that He finds in His people because of His satisfaction with them causes Him to "rejoice" over them "with singing." Wow! What an awesome God. Lesson Learned: Despite my plans, the failure to see them to fruition, and my shortcomings, God takes great delight in me!

A Walk to the Park: Lesson in Learning

The rainy gray days that have plagued our city the past few days are gone and the sun is bright and shining. The air is still a bit chilly but it's the perfect weather for a walk to our local park. One of the two town parks is less than one block away, so we often walk to the colorful playground often. These are the moments where Charlotte Mason's methods of learning are so easy for me to incorporate. Today, we were walking along when Hunter stooped noticed a late blooming dandelion and gave it to his baby sister. What an opportunity to praise his generous heart. A few more steps and we found acorns that had been half eaten. We discussed what animals eat acorns and what tree the acorns had come from. And a few steps later Hope noticed a large looking glass globe in someone's front yard. She and Hunter stood there making faces at themselves (and of course mom's in the background making sure they are keeping their distance so as not to knock it over!). Eventually, we crossed the street and made our way to the park. I am quite sure the kids enjoyed the journey to the park more than actually being at the park. Sure, the swings were fun, and climbing the spider web was exhiliarating, but the dandelions, sticks, acorns and silly faces were what they spoke about later. If only this were my perspective--enjoy the journey, be okay with taking my time and learning along the way. Instead, in this instant gratification culture, I want to get where I'm going immediately, stay so busy that there is no time to investigate what I am learning, and once I am at my destination only look forward to the next one! This sure isn't how I want to teach my children to live and learn, and I am sure this is not how God teaches me! I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, God-centered Mom, last week, and an 87 year old woman was being interviewed. She mentioned that oftentimes young women would ask her, "How do I know if I'm doing God's will?" And she replied with a section of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I hadn't ever read that verse in the context of looking for God's will within it. Instead, I have always used that verse as the reason for the importance of prayer and joy in every circumstance. My pea-sized brain has failed to connect the two until now--one of the ways I know I am in God's will is when I practice gratitude, joy and prayer. This can be done along the journey...oftentimes, I get caught up on reaching the destination that the journey gets lost. However, the walk to the park is as much, if not more, of a learning and growing experience than being at the park.

Naptime Silence, Fruitfulness and Books...Oh my!

Silence is usually only found here around naptime...and usually only for 45 minutes at the most, however, today is a beautifully gray, rainy day...perfect for books, tickling and naptime! The summer has officially begun for us, and the homeschool routine has quieted down, however, what do I do with my crazy kiddos? We READ!! We are in a fortunate place to have 2 summer library programs that we are able to attend where the kids earn prizes for reading. Awesome positive reinforcement to get their imaginations going and whet their appetite for reading! Our days are filled with reading, doing activities related to our books (just like we do in our Five in a Row curriculum during the school year) and playing outside (especially in the sprinkler). One of the pieces of advice (from Dr. Susan Wise Bauer's book "The Well Trained Mind") that has worked out wonderfully in our family is listening to books on CD while playing at home, or driving in the car. This helps children develop a sense of "the rhythm of language." Plus, it keeps my 5 year old's mind occupied and engaged while I am trying to concentrate on traffic. We have listened to over 15 books this year, and even when I think my children aren't listening, they will ask questions later about the story. As I mentioned above, one of the best things about gray, rainy days, besides going to the library and books, is naptime. For some reason, these spring showers cause sleepiness! However, Hadley, my independent 2 year old, has just switched from her crib to a toddler bed a few days ago. The independence and curiosities for life outside of her bed are endless and keep her up for most of naptime! Everyday, inevitably, after laying her down she will place her blanket over her head, slowly open her door, and tip toe into the front room...where she runs in to the couch or table (luckily it has rounded corners!). As she runs in to something, she removes the blanket from her head, looks around, promptly puts it back over her head and continues on her fruitless mission! In the end, the outcome is always the same--discipline and then back to her bedroom. I actually can't help but laugh at this every day! It is so funny...and yet, it's also so much like me in my struggle of independence and fruitlessness. I enjoy naptime because it is my time to regroup...reading, journaling, studying and reflecting. Like Hadley, my "need" for independence often drives me away from God. I think that my skills are enough to do this mothering gig and I pride myself on my self-reliance. However, each and every day I am reminded of my need to be refined and pruned of my pride and self-reliance. Recently, I have been using a wonderful tool that Ann Voskamp provides to memorize the Beautitudes and Matthew 5. As I have been memorizing, meditating and studying, Matthew 5:8 has just stuck with me for a few weeks, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." This is my heart's desire, yet what does this mean? As I finally sat down to dig deeper and look up the roots for "pure" and "shall see" I was struck over the head with a 2x4 of my need for refining and pruning. "Shall see" is one word: optanomai. It is a verb that means "to look at, behold; to allow one's self to be seen, to appear." If I am pure in heart, then I can see God, in all His glory and majesty and awe. His character will be revealed to me. How amazing is our God that He has given us this blessing and opportunity? But what does it mean to be pure in heart? Pure is "katnaros" which is an adjective and means, "clean, pure," and can refer to levitical cleanliness or physical cleanliness. Physically, it refers to being "purified by fire, in a similitude like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit." These bring to mind so many passages of scripture, but two in particular: Malachi 3:3 and Galations 5:22. However, naptime silence has ended and I know what I'll be studying more this week! I have some pruning and refining to pray for!!

Slaying Giants...the Birth of a Blog

"What is God calling you to do today that you have put off and thought I can't do that?" That was our pastor's challenge this morning as we studied David and Goliath. The call to writing has been wrapped up in a tight ball in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes it surfaces for air, but I then push it down. I am a winner...with a fantastic fear of failure. Fantastic in that it drives me to do the best that I can in every task that I pursue...but as Meriam Webster's definition also states, "not real." My fear of failure, is not real because I will inevitably fail: I am not perfect (praise God that my Savior is!). As Sarah Young writes in her beautiful devotional Jesus Calling, "There is nothing perfect in this world except Me. That is why closeness to Me satisfies deep yearnings and fills you with joy. I have planted longing for perfection in every human heart. This is a good desire, which I alone can fulfill." This means the notion of fear is ridiculous and fantastic all at the same time because I will never be perfect. With this writing ball surfacing for air, I am trekking out on this journey in obedience. As David was called to slay Goliath, in an effort by God to continue to grow him, change him and mature him...I am stepping out in obedience to be grown, changed and matured. In 3 short months we will officially begin the homeschooling journey. I have done many Pre-K activities, and hours of research...but starting in September my baby girl, Hope, will be in Kindergarten...here goes nothing...or rather something amazing with the Lord's guidance!