Our Lesson on Joy

I flip the pages of this precious Book, this Book that breathes Life, in search of those precious words written in red.
Joy.
Just the sound of it fills my heart with such gladness.
I use my best handwriting to copy it onto our kitchen blackboard and wonder at the love that overflows from it.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John15:11 KJV
We read the meaning of joy in our dictionary and this is what it says:
A condition or feeling of high pleasure or delight; happiness; gladness.
These precious words were spoken by our Dearest Friend.
Our Dear Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
He is Light. Full of Beauty and Goodness.
Full of unending Joy!
And He freely and joyfully gives His Joy to US!
So WE can be FULL of JOY!
Full of HIS JOY! The Joy of all Joy!
Full to the tippy top!
If that isn't the 'highest of pleasure'!

We are searching for comfort in sorrowful times. Loved ones are called Home and we aren't ready for them to go.
How our hearts ache and will go on aching for maybe forever.
The tears will not leave our eyes.
Oh, how we need these Precious Words of Life to breathe life back into our barely breathing souls!
"He will swallow up death in victory;and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.."
Isaiah 25:8
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Psalms 126:5
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22
That's our Dearest Friend again-the words in Precious Blood Red!
Feel the Breath of Life in these Precious, Holy, Beautiful words!
Words of comfort. Words of peace. Words of joy!
Living, breathing, words of LIFE!
And the promise to give us His joy so that ours may be full!
Fill our hearts, oh Lord, with your Perfect Joy!
Oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus!
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:5
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

May the Love, Peace and the Joy of the Lord be with you always, dear precious friends!

Memorial Day

Here is an essay that I found on the internet that was written in 2001 by Ali M, 3rd Grader, Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.
I think it is quite wonderful!

Memorial Day

As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died.  Swimming pools open, BBQs fry.  Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered half-mast.  But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on.

I love working out at the local track.
Here is one of my favorite track workouts:
1) Run the bleachers up and down 10 times.
2) 25 incline push ups on bench
    25 triceps dips on bench
REPEAT #2 for 2 complete sets
3) Sprint track straight ways and recover on curves. 2 times around track for a total of 4 sprints and 4 recovers.
4) 25 crunches
    25 bicycles (elbow to right knee, elbow to left knee is one full rep)
REPEAT #4 for 2 complete sets

REPEAT #1 THROUGH 4 two more times for a total of 3 sets!

Great workout using high intensity cardio and strength for maximum fat burning and muscle building!
Go home and drink a protein shake!

Every time I go to the chiropractor I am reminded of Life's Little Instructions since it is posted on the back of the restroom door.
I love it!  Here it is:

Life's Little Instructions

Sing in the shower. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated. Watch a sunrise at least once a year. Leave the toilet seat in the down position. Never refuse homemade brownies. Strive for excellence, not perfection. Plant a tree on your birthday. Learn three clean jokes. Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full. Compliment three people every day. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Leave everything a little better than when you found it. Keep it simple.

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Floss your teeth. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it. Be forgiving of yourself and others. Overtip breakfast waitresses. Say "Thank you" a lot. Say "Please" a lot. Avoid negative people. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards. Wear polished shoes.

Remember other people's birthdays. Commit yourself to constant improvement. Carry jumper cables in your trunk. Have a firm handshake. Send lots of Valentine card. Sign them "Someone who thinks your terrific". Look people in the eye. Be the first to say "Hello". Use the good silver. Return all things you borrow. Make new friends but cherish the old ones. Keep secrets. Sing in a choir. Plant flowers every spring. Have a dog. Always accept an outstretched hand. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. Wave at kids on school buses. Be there when people need you. Feed a stranger's expired parking meter. Don't expect life to be fair. Never underestimate the power of love. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation. Don't be afraid to say "I made a mistake. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know". Compliment even small improvements. Keep your promises (no matter what). Marry only for love. Rekindle old friendships. Count your blessings.

Call you mother.

Train Up A Child

The children are the future of the world.
They will be the mothers, fathers, neighbors, leaders, teachers, mentors of the coming generations!
What they learn today will shape them for the future, yet what are they learning today?
Children learn what they live.
Here is another poem that I remember on Grandma Storm's wall when I was a young girl:

Children Learn What They Live by Dorothy Louise Law Nolte

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
But,
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

When we first started homeschooling, I worried about what to teach our children.
 I would constantly ask God to just hit me on the head with a brick with a note attached so I would know exactly what to teach the children he loaned to us.
And in His gentle, loving, very patient way, this is what He 'told' me:
"Teach them about Me.
Teach them about Jesus and My love."
So, I asked, "well, what about math and science and history and geography and public speaking and physics and government and foreign language and, and, and,....?"
In His gentle, loving, very patient way, this is what He 'told' me:
"Teach them about Me.
Teach them about Jesus and My love."
Okay, so......hmmm....um, anything else?
The note on the brick came.
And in His gentle, loving, very patient way, this is what He 'told' me:
"Teach them about Me.
Teach them about Jesus and My love."

I am NOT kidding! 
This is EXACTLY how it went!
I worried. I wondered. I read endless books on education, homeschooling, how to teach children, etc.
Would my children measure up?
Are they going to succeed in life?
Will they FAIL???
I was certain they would be the first homeschooled students to FAIL!
And this is the message He sent with the brick!
"Teach them about Me.
Teach them about Jesus and My love."

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22: 6

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Deuteronomy 6:6, 7

And the brick keeps coming!
Thank you, Lord, for being so patient with me! 
I think I've got it!
Ouch! My head hurts!

"Peace I Leave With You"

Our worries of the day make it hard for us to sleep sometimes. 
 Proper rest is said to be one of the most important things we can do for our health and well being.

Here are a few ideas for peaceful sleep!
1) Go to bed early!
Put the kids to bed and start on your own bedtime ritual! Stop all chores, start a bathing ritual, settle into bed, read a little, count the days blessings, say your prayers and turn out the lights!
2) Create a morning routine: 'hem' your day in prayer, sip something warm, count your blessings, take a few deep breaths and plan your day.
3) Take mini breaks throughout the day to just breathe deeply-inhale slow, exhale slow-all the way to the belly and back!
4) Increase your exercise.  Make sure your physical activity is as great as, or greater than, your mental activity.
5) Get plenty of fresh air and sunlight.
6) Eat food the way God made it.
7) Sip on herbal teas.
8) Take a short nap.
9) Keep your sleeping room dark and quiet.  Eliminate all blue and red lights from electronic devices.  Keep your room as dark as possible.
10) Buy a good mattress!
11) Practice yoga~google relaxing yoga poses.
12) Don't eat anything crazy before bed!
13) Live in peace.
14) Let go and let God!

"A day hemmed in prayer rarely unravels." ~a saying on Grandma Storm's wall.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~ John 14:7

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." ~ Psalms 4:8

God's Peace to all!
Love,
Laura

I'm Dreaming of Vegetables!

I've started exercise classes again and I am so thankful that the ladies come over so I can get my butt in gear!  I was actually quite lazy this past fall so it feels good to be back into a routine of exercising and eating healthy!
Sheesh, I actually fell off the bandwagon for awhile there!
But, don't worry if you've done the same! We'll just keep on trying!
So, every week when we have class, we try to add something beneficial to our week.
Last week was trying to get in 12 cups of water a day and this week it's veggies and I was thinking maybe some of you would like to get a little encouragement, too!
Here is the email I sent:
"Hi Everyone!
This week we will continue to drink our water & do our kegels (now is a good time :) and trying to incorporate 1-2 NEW vegetables into our weekly menu!
Here are a few ideas:

*Kale: tear bite size pieces off of the stem and put on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in 350* oven for approximately 15 minutes or until crispy.
~we love it this way! Also, great in soups, smoothies, and stirfrys.
*parsnips, Brussels sprouts, turnip, rutabaga are all great in roasts & stews.
*seaweed, kelp are easy to crush & sprinkle in soups, sauces, dips, stew, pizza etc.
*bok choy is delicious in stir fry
*eggplant and zuchini can be sliced & topped with tomato & mozzarella for mini veggie pizzas.

*pickled artichoke hearts are great on salad and pizza!

*all kinds of greens can be added to green smoothies

*sautee asparagus with olive oil and spices

*wrap partially cooked bacon around fresh blanched green beans or asparagus and finish baking in oven, drizzle with homemade dressing

*shred a variety of cabbage, beets, etc for a fresh cole slaw

*okra is great in jambalaya

Our local Meijer grocery store has signs above their produce that give suggestions for using the vegetables.

Also, try different ethnic recipes for great ideas for using different veggies and spices. One year around Easter, I made our whole dinner from middle eastern cuisine! It was so fun trying new recipes with 'exotic' ingredients and spices! I felt like quite the gourmet chef making baba ganoush and falafels!

Anyway, I didn't realize how fun it would be to try new veggies and recipes so go ahead and have some fun with YOUR new veggies!"

 

It really IS exciting! You might just want to go get yourself a new apron!