My sweet, baby James loves the song Way Out Here. Every time we get into the car with the radio on he asks for his favorite. Tonight we spent the evening visiting with good friends. After saying our good-byes, I started the van and the radio began to play. Just like clockwork, James asked for his favorite. I told him I could make no promises to hear it on the way home, but he could pray, and if it was God's will maybe he would hear it. James is our prayer warrior. He prays regularly, and he reminds me of his father when he prays. He bowed his head there in his carseat and asked God to play his favorite song on the radio. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned. What if his song didn't play?
I fretted for nothing! Much to our surprise, the very next song was Way Out Here. James was extremely happy and I was in shock. Sarah immediately turned to him and said, "Pray for Hans* to win on Tuesday." Just like clockwork, Sarah turned the conversation to politics, because that's her favorite. James has been praying for Hans all summer and fall.
Please vote on Tuesday!
*Candidate for State Rep. for whom we have been campaigning this year.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sad News
Late this afternoon, I received a phone call from my brother-in-law informing me his mom was on her way to Good Samaritan Hospital. She was experiencing abdominal pain and vomiting. Lucie is an incredibly physically healthy woman of 92. Her years have taken their toll on her memory, though. As a result, she consumed an entire box of Metamucil "cookies." The doctor said everything will eventually work its way out, to keep her hydrated, and he sent her home. I was thankful it was simple.
On the other hand, while driving to the hospital, my mother called to inform me my cousin's husband, Mike, passed away this afternoon. Mike and Jenni have two boys less than 10 years old. Saturday, Mike had the opportunity of celebrating his birthday with family and friends. I am glad we were able to spend some time with them on our trip in June. Mike had brain cancer, and Jen now joins me as a cancer widow and single mother of small children.
As I said yesterday, God's timing is ALWAYS perfect. Please join me in praying for this family as they begin the next chapter in their lives.
May the peace of Christ my Savior
Rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
Rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
Columbus Day 2010
God's timing is ALWAYS perfect. There is no need to stress or fret how things will turn out. They always turn out according to His plan for our lives. We need to relax and enjoy the ride.
I need to remind myself of this so very often. There are days when I fuss, fuss, fuss, trying to figure how everything will work out. He has a plan and I need to trust. It's simple--trust, trust, trust.
Our new school year is up and running as of October 4. I love new books, pencils and papers. I remember in college how I loved the beginning of the new quarter. I motivated myself by saying, "I have a 4.0, now I have to work to maintain it!" How do I motivate my students who have no clue the value of a 4.0? I don't give grades until high school. Prior to that, if I find an error while correcting papers, we go back and relearn the material. Sometimes, there are complaints like, "I already know that." and "Why do we have to do it again?" Well, I thought I would get complaints last week as we began to look at Christopher Columbus, again. I didn't even think of the timing of our study. Here it is Columbus Day!
For dinner, I served Italian meat loaf, green beans, acorn squash and carrot raisin salad. (I actually wanted green salad, but someone said that would make dinner too green, and I didn't have any lettuce.) Following dinner, I read half of I, Columbus My Journal 1492-1493 by Peter and Connie Roop. This biography is based on actual journal entries written by Columbus during his famous voyage. Everyone enjoyed the book. We'll finish it tomorrow.
We had a discussion on the value of journaling. I have encouraged my children to journal for years. My mantra, "Today is tomorrow's history." Someday, someone may want to re-enact 2010 and if no one keeps a record of their day to day life how will the re-enactors develop their persona? I have kept a journal on and off since I was 9 years old. Some years were more off than on. I'll pick up where I left off, chuckling as I realize I gave birth to two children since the previous entry. I guess I was too busy to keep track.
This reminds me of the journal my great-great grandmother, Ellen Hall Miller, kept. She was diligent about recording her garden produce, the weather, and world and family affairs. The year was 1935 and she had fairly regular journal entries. The months of November and December she mentioned how my grandmother was getting along with her pregnancy. The last entry was Dec. 26th, but to my disappointment, no record after that for another year or so. My grandmother gave birth to my dad on Dec. 27, and it is not recorded in Granny's diary! I can spend hours reading her entries. They transport me in time.
Family history and genealogy are a wonderful way to teach history. I'm looking forward to studying the Mayflower, again, and renewing my memory of my ancestors aboard that ship. That is the motivating factor. The love of learning is instilled in the student, because the teacher loves to learn, too. What a tremendous opportunity I have as a home educator. I can enjoy learning the first time, and learning something new the next time, and sharing what we've learned together with my children each day.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5,6
I need to remind myself of this so very often. There are days when I fuss, fuss, fuss, trying to figure how everything will work out. He has a plan and I need to trust. It's simple--trust, trust, trust.
Our new school year is up and running as of October 4. I love new books, pencils and papers. I remember in college how I loved the beginning of the new quarter. I motivated myself by saying, "I have a 4.0, now I have to work to maintain it!" How do I motivate my students who have no clue the value of a 4.0? I don't give grades until high school. Prior to that, if I find an error while correcting papers, we go back and relearn the material. Sometimes, there are complaints like, "I already know that." and "Why do we have to do it again?" Well, I thought I would get complaints last week as we began to look at Christopher Columbus, again. I didn't even think of the timing of our study. Here it is Columbus Day!
For dinner, I served Italian meat loaf, green beans, acorn squash and carrot raisin salad. (I actually wanted green salad, but someone said that would make dinner too green, and I didn't have any lettuce.) Following dinner, I read half of I, Columbus My Journal 1492-1493 by Peter and Connie Roop. This biography is based on actual journal entries written by Columbus during his famous voyage. Everyone enjoyed the book. We'll finish it tomorrow.
We had a discussion on the value of journaling. I have encouraged my children to journal for years. My mantra, "Today is tomorrow's history." Someday, someone may want to re-enact 2010 and if no one keeps a record of their day to day life how will the re-enactors develop their persona? I have kept a journal on and off since I was 9 years old. Some years were more off than on. I'll pick up where I left off, chuckling as I realize I gave birth to two children since the previous entry. I guess I was too busy to keep track.
This reminds me of the journal my great-great grandmother, Ellen Hall Miller, kept. She was diligent about recording her garden produce, the weather, and world and family affairs. The year was 1935 and she had fairly regular journal entries. The months of November and December she mentioned how my grandmother was getting along with her pregnancy. The last entry was Dec. 26th, but to my disappointment, no record after that for another year or so. My grandmother gave birth to my dad on Dec. 27, and it is not recorded in Granny's diary! I can spend hours reading her entries. They transport me in time.
Family history and genealogy are a wonderful way to teach history. I'm looking forward to studying the Mayflower, again, and renewing my memory of my ancestors aboard that ship. That is the motivating factor. The love of learning is instilled in the student, because the teacher loves to learn, too. What a tremendous opportunity I have as a home educator. I can enjoy learning the first time, and learning something new the next time, and sharing what we've learned together with my children each day.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5,6
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Catching Up to Run the Race
For those of you who followed Our Journey Through Suffering know this is my first post in four months. I wish to give thanks to my friends and family who prodded me to keep up with the blog; you know who you are.
A variety of reasons led to this hiatus. First, we have been running! When we returned from our vacation in June, Jonathan began his second quarter of college and the kids attended summer camp as campers and counselors at Fort Nisqually. At the time, not yet licensed, Jonathan was dependent on Sarah and me to transport him back and forth to class. This became a logistical nightmare. Sarah and I would begin our day by writing a schedule of who was driving which vehicle and transporting whom. She is currently working on a political campaign, and we all have been involved in various aspects of it. Just before the primary election in August, we helped wave signs during the morning and evening commutes. This led to more schedule arranging, but it was worth it. The candidate won, and now we are working towards a victory in November!
Second, I didn't feel I could continue posting to the blog. I was no longer walking on the same path. God set Bryan free of pain and suffering. He is now at the feet of Jesus, worshipping his Lord, and Savior. I needed to design something new, but my creativity was dry. This morning, while singing May the Mind of Christ, My Savior, I was moved by the words. During our cancer trials the hymn, Day by Day, kept me focused on trusting God for each passing moment. Today, I am looking at a bigger picture. I have a race set before me which will bring new trials and triumphs. I need to continue trusting, looking only to Jesus as I onward go. The memory of my friend, Carla, effortlessly running the hurdles gives a clear picture of this verse. Her eyes never left the finish line; she didn't watch her feet, look to the right or the left, especially not behind, but continued to focus on the end goal, winning every race. May my eyes only focus on what lies before me.
Looking to Jesus,
Susan
A variety of reasons led to this hiatus. First, we have been running! When we returned from our vacation in June, Jonathan began his second quarter of college and the kids attended summer camp as campers and counselors at Fort Nisqually. At the time, not yet licensed, Jonathan was dependent on Sarah and me to transport him back and forth to class. This became a logistical nightmare. Sarah and I would begin our day by writing a schedule of who was driving which vehicle and transporting whom. She is currently working on a political campaign, and we all have been involved in various aspects of it. Just before the primary election in August, we helped wave signs during the morning and evening commutes. This led to more schedule arranging, but it was worth it. The candidate won, and now we are working towards a victory in November!
Second, I didn't feel I could continue posting to the blog. I was no longer walking on the same path. God set Bryan free of pain and suffering. He is now at the feet of Jesus, worshipping his Lord, and Savior. I needed to design something new, but my creativity was dry. This morning, while singing May the Mind of Christ, My Savior, I was moved by the words. During our cancer trials the hymn, Day by Day, kept me focused on trusting God for each passing moment. Today, I am looking at a bigger picture. I have a race set before me which will bring new trials and triumphs. I need to continue trusting, looking only to Jesus as I onward go. The memory of my friend, Carla, effortlessly running the hurdles gives a clear picture of this verse. Her eyes never left the finish line; she didn't watch her feet, look to the right or the left, especially not behind, but continued to focus on the end goal, winning every race. May my eyes only focus on what lies before me.
Looking to Jesus,
Susan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)