A New School Year

This year we are skipping the Abeka books and using the Time 4 Learning program.
https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/demos.html
It looks like the perfect solution to our homeschooling needs. Online lessons, videos and games, printable pages, lesson plans with record keeping and scores. We will still add book reading and writing practice but I think this will eliminate that constant fear that we're not doing what we need to or enough of it. At 19.99 a month it's a great deal!

Again and Again

For human beings forgiveness is not always a one time thing. I remember learning about this in one of my YWAM classes many years ago. If you forgive someone for something that they continue to excuse or repeat it may cause all the feelings of hurt, anger and betrayal to rise up in you again. Popular opinion is that if thinking about the offense still hurts you haven't ever really forgiven but this is untrue. So today I am working to forgive AGAIN and again, hoping that the scabs won't always be ripped off of my wounds before the new skin has had a chance to grow in over the wound.

Kundalini Warning

I know that there are many who will see this as proof that all Pentecostals are crazy and things like falling down under the power of God are from Satan. Personally, I have had too many experiences and read too much of the Word to believe that, HOWEVER I do believe that it is very often a false spirit moving on the people.
Look at the fruits of the experience. Did God bring someone to salvation through it? Was someone healed or delivered?
Too often I see people treating the 'spirit' as some sort of drug. As if God is throwing a bit of His glory down just to make us feel high, happy and special. This is NOT a biblical concept! When did Jesus ever do anything without a definite and life changing result?
This should be a warning to Christians everywhere. Satan is the great deceiver. For every truth he has a counterfeit. Don't be too quick to believe that what you are seeing must be of God because it feels good and makes you hot, tingly and happy.


2Thessalonians 2:9-12
even he , whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Well, the last few days have been better. There's still a lot going on but the stress has eased up a bit.
Hunny is off for a couple of days and having him home makes life better.:)
The kids had a great time playing in the sprinkler. I took pictures that I'll post later.
For supper I made Roast,peppered roasted potatoes, green beans and Brussels sprouts.
I think we will take the kids for a drive and some ice cream.

God, I REALLY REALLY love my husband!!
Thank you,
Me~

Life

My little man is sick; he's had a fever for a couple of days now and wants to nurse constantly. I really wish he took a Binky right now!
We had a lovely thunder storm today, gray sky, ominous black clouds, lightening and heart stopping thunder; we enjoyed it. :) Watching the rain coming down from behind the glass door was the happiest Noah was all day.
After the rain hubby and Mickey went and got a bunch of tacos from Taco Johns. 'Taco Tuesday' is a favorite around here.
Later, hubby, Mickey and the kids went to the park for a couple of hours and now daddy and Emma are painting. Mom and Mickey are having a Bible study on the front porch and Isaiah is playing a game while dad watches TV.
Most of my day has consisted of holding my fussy boy and nursing him until I can barely take it anymore but hey, it's still been a good day. I am very blessed to have the family that I have.
Isaiah has taken it upon himself to read the entire Bible. He has been reading several chapters each night and I am so proud of him.
I feel as if God has been reminding me about 'soul ties' and the need to deal with the unhealthy ones. At first I thought it was pertaining to my brother in law and his ex but realized that I had some of my own as well. Those invisible bonds that keep you in destructive relationships and keep your emotions bound to harmful people. Satan often keeps people trapped by keeping them blind to the existence of the tie or by confusing us with the issue of forgiveness. I am so grateful for Gods faithfulness and freedom.

Life is a wonderful gift

I love life! I love the wonders that God has given us. I love the miracle of new life and the strength of aged life. Man has invented many amazing things but nothing can come close to the beauty and wonder of the life given by God.

Public Schools Are Bad!

My Lovin Babies

Chili

I made a successful dinner of chili, chicken & noodles and cornbread for supper. I have a recipe that I usually use for chili but tonight I needed something quicker to make and came up with this. It's actually quite good and I was even complimented by my father in law, which is really saying something!

1 1/2 lb. ground round
1 onion, chopped
2 cans, chili ready diced tomatoes (I like the Aldi's brand)
1 can, condensed tomato soup
3 cans, light red kidney beans
Approximately 6 cups of water
2 TSP. Cumin
garlic salt to taste
1-2 tsp. spicy steak seasoning
Brown beef and onion large pot. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours.
My regular chili has a lot of chili powder but the prepared tomatoes had just enough.

Meatloaf

Meatloaf, that all American food of TV infamy (you know, the food that the husbands dread and kids feed to the dog)is not one of my favorite foods. Tonight I came up with a recipe for one that was actually really good and everyone enjoyed! Unfortunately I didn't measure everything but I wanted to write down the ingredients so I can repeat it.
Here goes:
3 LB. Ground Round
1 can Tomato soup
1 onion
1 can green beans
3 eggs
1 sleeve Ritz style crackers, crushed
1-2 Cups rolled oats
Garlic salt, aprox. 1-2 TBSP.
Steak seasoning
1/4 tsp. curry powder
BBQ Sauce (we love Sweet Baby Rays)
Blend green beans and onion in a blender. (Kids don't eat onions and hubby hates green beans but this fools them.) Mix all ing. well and spread into 9x13 pan. Top with a few swirls of BBQ Sauce. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

I made Apricot Preserves today. Our neighbor has an Apricot tree that she let go to waste so we asked to pick some of what was left. The Apricots were tiny but the preserves are delicious and it was worth the work! I forgot how much I enjoy canning!
There's a loaded Apple tree close by that we plan to pick and make Apple Butter and sauce from later in the year.
The baby was asleep when I went downstairs to make the preserves and Isaiah was up here keeping an eye on things. When I came back up they were in the chair cuddled up under a blanket; it was so sweet. I took pictures of them but haven't got them on here yet.' Now Isaiah and Emma are in the next room growling at each other and playing like they're tigers.
I LOVE MY KIDS ~

Forgiveness ~ is The hardest thing to do for yourself and others.
Forgiveness ~ is not denying that you were treated wrongly.
Forgiveness ~ does not mean that you can or should trust the forgiven party ever again.
Forgiveness ~ does not mean your heart is not hurting; it is not a feeling.
Forgiveness ~ is loving your enemies, while they are still your enemies and loving your friends more than their faults.
Forgiveness ~ is a decision that we make to obey GOD and trust that He will give us the protection and strength to walk in obedience.
Forgiveness ~is confusing and simple, painful and relieving,strength and humility.
Forgiveness ~ is to be a follower of Jesus, all the way to the cross.

Disappointed

Today hasn't turned out the way we wanted it to at all. Liz and the kids came all the way from Manhattan and we all went to the park for the big celebration just to find it cancelled due to rain.
Next my brother called and told us that Abilene was flooded and he and his family are sick so the family BBQ was cancelled.
Then we did some checking and found out that the fireworks in both towns have been cancelled!
The kids have been running around in the house all day and making their grandparents crazy with the noise.
We're going to try to salvage part of the day by loading everyone up and going to get our own fireworks. Uncle Micky seems excited about the idea and I know hubby loves setting off fireworks so doing it together should be quite a BLAST!
I wish things had worked out better; I was glad to be seeing family that I hadn't seen in 1 to 2 years and Isaiah really wants to see his cousins. Also, it's my nephews 4Th birthday today.
Well, maybe we'll have another chance to get everyone together. God knows what's best. ~

I got to talk to my brother today; it was good to hear his voice. :) We are looking forward to getting together on the 4Th.
I am also glad that my sister in law and nieces are coming down from Manhattan for the day. We are going to the 'Old Fashioned 4Th. Of July Celebration' downtown. There are supposed to be lots of games and treats for the kids, a great opportunity for pictures!