More of Him

Diana hosts More of Him each Monday. Stop by to check it out!







I've decided to post today on "Him in my life." Here's what Diana challenges us with:

Share how God is working in your life right now. Is He telling you something or helping you through something? Do you hear His small, quiet voice? Or is He hitting you over the head with a two by four? Are you on a spiritual high? Or low? Share as you are led.

Something the Lord has been placing on my heart is my attitude with my children. Its funny, because with friends (IRL or bloggy), I can encourage and laugh and I want to make people laugh. But, when it comes to my children, I feel like I am constantly trying to get them to "calm down" or "be quiet" instead of letting them "get their sillies out!" (As children's music artist, Raffi would say). I know I am probably being hard on myself, but why is it so easy to make others laugh, but I can't encourage it with my children? It seems I have to really work to be silly with them.

The Lord has made me more aware of this and that is why the prayers at interceding for our children have taken on more of a parent perspective.

Friday, as I was exercising, I cried out that I wanted our day to be more fun and for me to be more relaxed. I had only 4 1/2 hours sleep Thursday night (stayed up too late looking at shoes online and was up at 5:30 to walk). I thought we were doomed because of my lack of rest. But, the Lord had other plans. We had a wonderful day. We got so much accomplished and had fun doing it. I thought maybe I was too delirious from the lack of sleep that I just didn't notice anything to pick about. ;-)

Yesterday afternoon, my husband was taking Quintin to a friend's birthday party. I was telling Quintin as he climbed in the truck to use manners, control himself, have fun.....so on and so on. And T jokingly says to me, "Yes, because this reflects on us."

As they pulled out, I was stopped dead in my tracks. Then I began to question my motives in saying those things to our son.

Do I want him to behave so he is safe, careful....or is it because of the reflection it has back on me, as his mom? Is it because we homeschool and there aren't any other homeschoolers our age at church?

WOW! It all hit me like a truck. Its something I really need to continue to think about and pray about.

I will continue to ask God for help, strength and wisdom in this area. So, now I'm off to relax, have fun and enjoy my children. May you find the opportunities to do that with your children today, too!

Thank you for hosting this Diana!

We had a blast!

Yesterday, I had an awesome lunch. A lunch that lasted 4 hours!


Do you recognize any of these faces?


Mary, Meg and Momma Roar - we met for lunch Saturday. Meg and Mary have been friends for a long time and I met both of them through blogging. Mary came up to see Meg after Meg had her second child - a dear sweet little boy, Liam (he was along too, but was sleeping at picture-time!) Meg and I live kinda close - so, we thought it would be a great time to get together!

What a wonderful opportunity to have lunch with these two sweet gals. Their love for the Lord shines through so much more in person and it was fun to get to know the, ahem, "other" side that doesn't come through on blogging. We had such a blast!

We ate at a little cafe and there were others seated around us with their laptops - we could've been go*gle chatting while eating - or posting about it in real time - but, that would mean we have an addiction to blogging - which we certainly do not. We aren't those *crazy* people with like 1000 blogs in their bloglines account. We aren't addicted...now, where was I?

It was such a blast and I'm so thankful it worked out to get together. Gotta give a shout-out to our hubs: A, E and T for keeping the calm on the home front while we were gone.

I had a blast - thanks for the lunch date, girls!

Show & Tell

I've been wanting to share two of our 'extra projects' that we've been doing. Quintin had a great time painting them and I think they turned out really cute.






Let's all climb aboard the Quintin Train!










We also found some inexpensive wooden kits at the local craft store. Quintin's first choice was this race car!








To see more Show & Tells, head over to Kelli's!

What fun projects have you recently done or plan to do soon with your children?

Its time for a VLOG

Edited to add: I posted my thoughts about the 'Count your blessings' post yesterday afternoon - so, you can find them below this one.

Oh, just in case you've ever wondered what a day in our house is like, here is a small glimpse!!


Colin has been pulling himself up to his knees, but yesterday, he mastered getting to his feet....kinda! And the other two crazies added in with the fun and laughter.





Notice it cuts off as the screams start?.....yes, well, this is our life! :D lol

The rest of the story

Please read the "Count Your Blessings" post below before reading this one.

***********************************

We're home from co-op and everyone is in their rooms.

I've decided to sit down and see if I can gather my thoughts together here.

I guess I basically wanted to add that I do count my blessings, and I try to keep that positive approach to life.







I was recently blessed by two bloggers, Ginger and Carrie with the mathetes award.


Ginger's sweet words were:

Leigh Ann, just know how much I love you for the love you show on a daily basis towards everyone. Your joyful spirit and sweet nature is evident to all and you welcome the young and the old to be your friend. I was amazed right from the start that not only were you a friend of God, but that others were drawn to be your friend as well.

Carrie's sweet words were:

Leigh Ann always amazes me with how put together she is. Her faith and family are clearly number one in her life. I love how she has such a good balance between them!

You both have blessed me with such sweet words. While I'm tickled that I look like I have my act together - I really don't. :-O (A hush falls over the hundreds of Momma Roar readers)

I do want people to know that I love Jesus and He is my strength. And I like to encourage others and make people laugh and smile. (Isn't it fun that there are just as many 'genres' of blogs as there are books?)

I know that every one has differing opinions on these 'awards'. And, if you haven't read my friend Susan's thoughts (to award or not to award), please do.

I am blessed by each of my friends who take a moment out of their day to check in with Momma Roar. "Friends" - yes - you are my friends. I've not met you all in person, but I believe friendships can be made through emails and blogs.

I know that 'protocol' is to include the reasons behind the award and pass it along to 5 more people - but today, I just want to point out one blog to you. One blogger, who in her last few posts has totally captured my attention and is, I believe, the essence of this award.

Christy at Mommy Brain has been documenting her childhood experiences and the circumstances that have brought her to where she is now. When I asked her if it is therapeutic to write it out, she answered, "Yes, in a way...However, I simply feel like I was supposed to. I can't explain it but I felt led to do it."

I pray Christy is blessed for writing it out and sharing it with so many whom she may never get the chance to meet face to face.

I desire to pass along this award to Christy - for showing excellence in discipleship with her commitment to God's call in writing out her past. Blessings to both you and Clay!

Count Your Blessings

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are both alive and still married, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer them God's healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in so many ways you may never even know. Today, let us praise God for all His gifts, what He has done for us and feel the blessings!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I found this in a little paper/newsletter published locally that has a goal to "bring positive news, inspirational articles and information everyone can use in the local community." It truly is a great little paper.

I have a few things I wanted to add to this, but my time is up. It's Wednesday and that means we have co-op - so its a short morning here. I'll see you all tomorrow!

Mornings with Elle-belly

Elle was sitting at the table, holding a spoon full of cereal. She sneezed. She looks at me with an uh-oh face. I'm thinking, oh the germs! Elle reassures me everything is okay because "I no drop what's on my spoon!"

I appreciate her 'glass half full' approach to life!!


To hear what more tiny ones are saying, head over to Mary's at Notbefore7.

A Parade...A Parade

Our family enjoyed a parade last night. It is "Farm Show Week" in our little town - most people know these by another name, a fair, but we call it a Farm Show. Its something that brings everyone out - kinda like having lots of mini-high school reunions!

We took our blanket, found a good spot, and settled in for a fun time.

We saw the fire trucks - lots and lots of them.

We watched as all the tractors 'putt-putted' by. And there were lots of them. Apply the concept of 'restoring old cars' to tractors and you've got the main portion of our parade!!

We watched and heard the marching bands.

We saw Jean on her school's float!

We saw the HS cheerleaders, the girls in the Homecoming Court, the little baton twirlers.

We enjoyed watching the float from our church go by.

We laughed.

We cried. (just kidding)

We had a great time.

Would you like to know the best part? We didn't have to walk to the car afterwards (which would have been parked miles away, by the way).

Why?

Because, thanks to our local cable channel, its broadcasted live.




Ah yes, the enjoyment of a parade with all the comforts of home. We especially liked having a potty close by! The only thing we could have used would have been someone to stand next to the television set and toss out candy to us!!!

Can you?

Can you see it?

Can you feel it?

Can you sense it?


That excitement in their eyes, the "I can't believe it" shakes, the power building up inside them as they want to shout out, "I did it!"

The best part of teaching for me was that moment when something clicked for a student.

When a kindergartner got the words "Step-Hop" in his head to match his feet and skipped for the first time.

Can you see the excitement?

When the second grader pointed first, with his non-dominant hand and then threw the ball and it hit the back wall of the gym for the first time.

Can you feel the excitement?

When a fifth grader had mastered the steps to a country line dance and could keep up with me through the entire song?

Can you sense the excitement?

Those are the memories I've taken with me from my years of teaching.

But now, to be experiencing a new level of excitement in the faces of my own children - Nothing, absolutely nothing, can top that!!

Can you see it?

Can you feel it?

Can you sense it?

Can you hear my excitement?

Can you?

A Mother's Job Well Done

I just think this is an oustanding message and wanted to share it here. I hope it encourages you and you can pass it on to encourage others.
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Standing in the kitchen with my gown still on and my hair jostled from the night before, I manage to open one eye to see what I'm doing. I pour the water into the coffee pot and let out a big yawn. My youngest boy who enjoys the early morning hours comes happily skipping into the kitchen. "Mom," he says, "I'm starving!" "Will you cook me some eggs and bacon?" I hear what he says but I'm thinking, "Why not something simple?" I pull out the cereal boxes and oatmeal instead. My youngest is also the most persistent, "Mom pleeaaasee! I want eggs really bad!!" Two more young hungry birds have just arrived, they sit down at the breakfast table and chirp in with the melody but also add "some toast and jelly would be good too." I'm still thinking of that nice warm bed that I had to leave only a moment ago. I put up the cereal boxes and drag out the skillet. I'm really not in the mood to have to clean the entire kitchen, but here I go. ……again.

Mothers have a great responsible in raising their children. But somehow we forget the joys of motherhood. It seems we get caught up in the pressures that society throws our way. I believe whole-heartedly that this issue has stolen the joy of child rearing from many women. They are always running here and there trying to hold a job, be a sports mom and have supper on the table by 6:00 o'clock. House cleaning chores are hanging over their head, and they see no end in sight. Wondering whether or not they are failing as a parent has entered their mind a time or two. If they could just make it through the next few years, the kids will be grown and everything will be fine. Not true.

Our society teaches that in order for us to be a successful parent, we must supply our children with the finer things in life and open their world up to every social and physical activity that comes along. For example, little Junior has his own room where he keeps his Nintendo DS, Gamecube, Xbox, Ipod, and MP3 player. He has his very own 19" flat screen TV, with cable access, a DVD player and a Dell computer to chat with his friends when he's not calling them on his cell phone. Outside, awaiting his arrival is a motor scooter, and a four-wheeler. Because his parents want him to be `well rounded', he is presently participating in three different sporting events and a club that keeps him away from his church and family.

What's wrong with this picture? Society doesn't teach us that there are more important things in life than filling our time with things that in many ways make us no better of a person. Character comes from both a mom and a dad who are willing to take a stand and say no to the seduction of influence that the world pressures us with. A healthy child comes from time spent together as a family, doing the simple things in life that make a family grow in their relationship with one another. It doesn't mean that having a few nice things or being a part of a sports team or club is a bad thing. In its place, it is a good thing. But we have substituted this with what is important and it has consumed our time with busyness that we use to soothe our conscience.

The guilt of an overextended mom who is trying to keep her head above water by working two full time jobs is heartbreaking. Trying to run a household and work out in the secular world has ravished her mind and body. She is exhausted. Is there really any way to get off this endless merry-go-round? I say, "Yes!!!" It starts with the word NO. Learn to say NO to the multitude of obstacles that threaten to consume our time and energy. Learn to say NO to the numerous sporting events, clubs, and school activities. Learn to say NO to having every new game or toy out on the market. Learn to say NO to stretching our finances well beyond their limits so that we may have bigger and better things! No! No! No!

Of course we must also recognize the need to say yes. Say YES to simplifying our lifestyle! Say YES to playing a game of ball in the backyard or building a fort with blankets in the living room! Say YES to making a volcano and watching the faces of your children while they squeal in delight. Say YES and do the supper dishes together, teaching them how to take out the trash or do the laundry. Say YES and show them how to bake a cake and take it to a friend or neighbor who's hurting. YES! YES! YES!

`Train up a child in the way that he should go' does not require us to give him/her all of his/her wants and desires. It does however indicate that we are to supply them with a healthy foundation to build upon. Being a mom involves love, time and sacrifice. It is our responsibility to teach our children to recognize their unique qualities and abilities so that they will have the determination to pursue their God-given talents, to be unselfish so that they may put others before themselves, to be thankful so that they may appreciate all that God has blessed them with, and to be compassionate so that they will be willing to help others who are less fortunate than themselves.

The price is too high for us to continue down this path that leads to deep regret. We as mothers need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Debbie Taylor
Pam Hickman
May 2006

copied with permission

Getting Away

Sometimes, no matter what is going on at home, you need to get away.

Sometimes, commitments at home need to be put on hold, because you need to get away.

Sometimes, heading north to enjoy God's Creation, is the perfect way - to get away.

We drove about 3 hours this past weekend, for some very much needed time away. Time away from home, time away from work, time away from the 'everyday.'

No phone, no cable, no internet - just the mountains of Pennsylvania and a family of five who love spending time with each other!

We played in the creek, fished, skipped rocks, started campfires, enjoyed the changing colors on the mountains, rode ponies at a local fair, ate ice cream for lunch, pet alpacas, played Sequence for Kids a lot, blew bubbles, sang, laughed, stayed up late, woke up early - T set up his tree stand and retrieved the stand 2 days later never having gone into the woods to archery hunt (too foggy and HOT).

It was a much needed get away for Daddy from work and for all of us to enjoy time with him!!

I hope each of you had wonderful weekend!

We have our local "farm show" this week and I hope to get some pictures up of that as well!

I Need You - You're All I'm Living For

Ja*rs of Cl*ay is one of my favorite groups!! Enjoy!






Strangely out of place
There's a light filling this room
Where none would follow before
I can't deny it burns me up inside
I fan the flames to melt
Away my pride
Do I want shelter from the rain
Or the rain to wash me way?

I need you, I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you, I need you
You're all I'm living for

I might sound like a fool
But I think I felt you moving
Closer to me
Face to the ground
To hide the fatal cut
I fight the weight
I feel you lift me up
You are the shelter from the rain
And the rain to wash me away

need you, I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you, I need you
(All I'm living for)
I need you, I need you, I need you
You're all I'm living for
All I'm living for
You're all I'm living for

Face to the ground
To hide the fatal cut
I fight the weight
Feel you lift me up
Can't deny it burns me up inside
I fan the flames to melt away
My prideOnly had a second to spare
But all the time in the world
To know you're there
You are the shelter from the rain
And the rain to wash me away

I need you, I need you, I need you
(All I'm living for)
I need you, I need you, I need you
(All I'm living for)
& I need you, I need you, I need you
You're all I'm living for
All I'm living for
All I'm living for
All I'm living for
You're all I'm living for

Leaves

Remember....and tiny talk

I first want to take a moment to pause to remember the Amish community as today is the first anniversary of the Amish schoolhouse shooting.

The Amish closed the new school yesterday and had a meail with some neighbors as well as some state police troopers followed by an afternoon of watching a ball game. The school is expected closed today and they are asking to be left alone.

To read more, you can click here.

Please remember the families that lost daughters in that tragedy; the girls who are still recovering from their injuries; the wife and children of the shooter; and the community. For those who don't know, I live less than an hour from where this occurred.

Watercolor painting of West Nickel Mines School by local artist Elsie Beiler, titled "Happier Days."


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Mary at Not Before 7 is hosting Tiny Talk again this week. Click over to her site to hear more!

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Dad was cooking on the grill Saturday night and Quintin innocently asked him, "Is everything burnin' good, Dad?"

*********************

At the table, with a very messy mouth, I asked Elle to wipe her face. She asked me "Why? Me no done yet."

An angel arrived in the mail

I got some 'goodmail' over the weekend!

In some emails with two dear friends, Susan and Ginger, I was asking them about the act of confessing. I've always thought 'confessing' was only to admit my sins - I'm learning that there is another side. "Whenever the word 'confession' is used we instinctively think of confessing sin, weakness and failure. This is the negative side of that question. Christianity is called 'the Great Confession.' Confessing is affirming something that we believe. It is testifying of something that we know. It is witnessing for a truth that we have embraced."

As I continue to meditate on these thoughts, I received a book this past weekend to help me grow in my understanding. (Actually, the above quoted text is from this book)

Susan sent me the book, The Po*wer of Yo*ur Wo*rds. Inside, in Susan's handwriting, were the dates she last read her book. She has marked 8-26-01 and 1-23-05.

In August of 2001, I was gearing up to begin my final year of teaching - unbeknownst to me, I would become pregnant in the following months to give birth to my first child in June 2002 - which, if I'm correct, was about the time Susan was visiting my "neck of the woods." In January of 2005, I was sitting at home with a 2 1/2 year old and a newborn, just a month old, little girl.

At the bottom of the page, she made this inscription, "To Leigh Ann - May these words bless and build you up in the Lord as they have me. In Christ, Susan 9-22-07"

I am so touched that she has passed along to me, such a precious instrument used in her own spiritual growth.

I knew the book was coming in the mail, but when the box arrived, I thought it seemed a little large for a book. When I reached inside the package, I was in shock when I pulled out an angel music box.

Upon reading her enclosed letter, I learned that this was an angel from Susan's collection. If you've ever read Susan's blog, you know her love for angels. How wonderful to receive one of her special angels to treasure in my house. How wonderful to have a piece of her here.

Even though we have never met, and may never meet on this earth - I have so grown to love and treasure this wonderful friend. Even though we have many years between us, I have indeed found an angel on earth - a special gift from our Lord. I look forward to our emails concerning this book and I can't wait to take my angel up to my bedroom to set on my dresser.

Book Giveaway

Life in a Shoe is hosting a giveaway of Vision Forum's exciting new adventure series, Ballantyne books.






From VF's site: Ballantyne was not just another writer of the Victorian age who penned exciting historic fiction. His strong and uncompromising Christian presuppositions undergird all his stories. He encouraged his readers to put their trust in God for this life and the next, and taught in his stories that the one safeguard against evil is the redemptive love of God....But for Ballantyne, Stevenson might never have made his travels through the Pacific where, notably, he wrote his masterpiece Treasure Island. Reading Ballantyne’s The Coral Island at age fifteen sparked in Stevenson both his life-long love for the South Seas, and a fierce devotion to his fellow Scot. Stevenson even included Ballantyne in the introduction to his book Treasure Island, where he dubbed this proponent of Gospel Christianity and boyhood adventure, “Ballantyne the Brave.” The title stuck.




Life in a Shoe is taking entries until midnight tonight and will draw a winner Saturday!

Our School Room

Its time for Show & Tell this week! To see what others are Showing & Telling, head over to Kelli's! Thanks for hosting this again Kelli!

When we built our house, we decided to make what the architect designated as a dining room, into a playroom. A wonderful choice, I believe.

On either side of the window we have small bookcases and next to the table there is a small shelf that holds the toy bins.

I keep most of our school books in our den, but the ones I'm using daily sit on top of the bookcase. I just recently got a set of drawers to hold paper, crayons, and odds 'n' ends craft items. We had those things stashed all throughout the house, so now having them all together saves time.

The children's artwork is displayed like clothing on a washline with little plastic clothes pins!!

We received the table and chairs through our local Freecycle. If you've never checked this site out, please do! We've been able to pass somethings along as well as find some things that may have gone in the trash. Our table came from a church who was getting rid of them - its actually the church we were go for co-op. The chairs are a bit rusty on the bottoms, so I purchased chair pads and they slide great and the rust doesn't touch the floor.

I have some more things planned for the room, but this is how we are using it now!




Thanks for visiting my show & tell.

One Dream of a Meme! :)

I've seen this at Susan's, Ginger's and Just Mom's and I just wanna be like them...so, here's my meme!! :)

I don't drink.
Alcohol, tea or coffee. Do you understand now, why I need pepsi?

Chore I hate.
Emptying the dishwasher.

Pets.
Riley, a bichon frise, 9 years old.

Essential electronics.
Computer, radio (I need music on!)

Perfume.
My favorite is Sunflower by E. Arden

Gold or silver.
I like both. My watch band is both and my wedding rings are yellow gold and I wear two rings of white gold on my right hand.

Insomnia.
Nope - this has never been a problem with me. In fact, I sleep so soundly and deep, that T ususally has to wake me up. In college, my roommates had to wake me up during the fire drills. I sleep through thunderstorms. If T is not home, it takes me a while until I hear any of the children. Usually their cries become part of my dreams until I realize its one of the children. I hope I never lose this gift.

Job title.
Domestic Engineer

Most admired trait.
Making people smile.

Kids.
2 sons and a daugther (see top of blog!)

Phobia.
Heights. And, people turning their eyelids inside out.

Religion.
I don't like the term 'religious.' I am a follower of Jesus Christ. If you'd like to read my testimony, click here.

Siblings.
A brother, 8 years older than me and a sister, 4 years older than me. I'm the baby!

Time I wake up.
Usually around 7, but have been trying to get up earlier to exercise.

Unusual talent/skill.
I can sew my lips together. Would that make for an interesting vlog? Can we have a Bloggy Talent Show? Anyone with me? I'm not doing it alone, folks!

Vegetable I hate.
Brussel sprouts

Worst habit.
Being too sarcastic

X-rays.
Do I like them? Have I had them? HUH? I've had many x-rays, but do you really want to know about 'em?

My favorite meal.
One that is being enjoyed by many and has lots of fellowship!

Thank you!!

Thank you Ginger and Heather for passing along the You Make Me Smile Award!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Quintin and his dad, when we were up at the cabin earlier this month, were in the truck on their way to go fishing. They had their windows down and Quintin was taking everything in. A wild turkey walked out on the road and T slowed so they could get a better look. Quintin yelled out, "Dad! Look! There's an ostrich!" :)

To read what more tiny ones are saying, head over to Mary's!!