In Your Strength...

 "I love you, Lord;

you are my strength."

Ps 18:1

We are entering into a new season in so many ways.

A new school season, a new family season, a new sports season, a new spiritual season, a new FAITH season.

My older 2 boys are playing football. It is not easy for them because this is their first (real) year. The learning curve is steep. They aren't the best kids on the team by a long shot but they are learning so fast. I am proud of them as I watch them sweat and listen to their coaches and not give up. Their arms are covered in bruises. In a strange way, I can relate to them. 

I taught the boys these verses from Ps 18 and told them to say them when they are trying to tackle a kid who is stronger and tougher than they are...

"In your strength I can crush an army;

with my God I can scale any wall."

Ps 18:29
Those verses have become my homeschool motto for this year as I feel like I am up against an ARMY or trying to scale a wall everyday.

Motherhood also reminds me of trying to learn how to play football. ;)

I am nowhere near the most skilled and most days I am covered with bruises and learning from my mistakes. Yet, I move forward believing that in God's strength I can crush an army and with my God I can scale any wall.

 Guess who is cheering for her brother's teams???

:)

 I took some "back-to-school" pictures this morning.

I try to take them every year.

I am so thankful for each of my children. Oh, how I beg God to let me keep them as long as possible.

I call them "goodness and love" because they follow me all the days of my life.

Ps 23:6. :)

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life."

I never want them to lose their individuality just because we have a bigger family than most. I love how God uniquely made each one of them.

I don't EVER want them to get "lost" in the crowd.

 Crew 

Crew is our BALLER. It is very rare you see him without a ball or a bat or a glove. He sleeps with them. He knows how to do stuff we have never taught him. God has placed unique athletic gifts in him. It will be fun to watch them unfold.

He is very busy and very hard to keep up with.

He talks ALL THE TIME. Much more than his siblings did at this age. He is like our parrot. He repeats everything we say.

Hope

I am going to start teaching her to read this year.

She is ready. We read books in her new "big-girl bed". One night, I fell asleep in there with my clothes on because I was so exhausted. I love having her. She is challenging for sure because she knows when you are being genuine and when you aren't. She is witty like her daddy. She wants to be with me as much as I want to be with her.

We got our first mani/pedi last week.

She is a treasure. We are learning how to be godly girls (gentle and quiet)together. 

It doesn't come naturally for either of us. ;)

She is excited about doing ballet and cheerleading this fall.

May God continue to sculpture her into "palace style".

"That our daughters may be as pillars,

​​Sculptured in palace style"

Ps 144

Lake 

He is starting 2nd grade. Most of you know the trials we have been through together. He has had 3 life-threatening asthma attacks but Jehovah Sabaoth delivered him out of danger. He is growing and getting stronger yet I still consider him my weak little lamb. He has to take medicine for asthma and has food allergies. He has been through more trial than my other children yet he is the most joyful. He fills our home with laughter. He makes me feel close to Jesus.

God gave him to me in a very dark season of my life. I know that he was a treasure hidden in darkness. For some reason, I had to go there to get him.

I adore this child... as I do my others.

Lake was born with a song in his heart. He sang way before he talked. He has never stopped.

 Evan

 He and Reece are in 5th grade. I like to keep them ahead if I can so that I never feel "behind". They are both smart so they are doing great. I am super proud of them.

They have it made because they always have each other. Evan is artistic, creative, beautiful. The first thing I remember noticing about him when he was born was that he was beautiful. He is wired like me. We both live for fun and for the moment which can be good or bad. God's gotta keep us both in check. Evan wants to be a pastor when he grows up. I pray that he is.

"Bible Man Bubba" is growing up.

(click there to see his first sermon he wrote himself).

 Reece... oh my goodness, what would I do without Reece?

He is my "little husband". He is wired like Tim. He finds joy in serving. He LOVES babies and they love him. He is gentle like my dad. He looks like him too.

He is tall and strong. He is faithful.

He is a man of character. He is trustworthy.

He is a good friend. He hurts for the hurting.

He loves his lizard. He loves to talk to me at night before bed and I love to listen.

He is a great left-handed pitcher like my grandfather.

NEW BABY

I can't wait to meet him.

I have a name I love but Tim hasn't exactly come around to it yet. :)

Pray for me!! I have already bonded to the name. I don't really like any others.

I dug up some old "school pictures" and took a walk down memory lane.
Here is a picture of the very first day I homeschooled!! I was scared out of my mind....

I still am!!!

I just had the 3 boys. Lake was a baby.

By God's grace, we have come a long way.

I wish I had the time to invest in each child like I had with the older two. I didn't realize how precious that time was with the older two. I have to multi-task like a maniac now. Holding a crying baby, reading a book and checking homework all at the same time. Somehow trying to figure out what we are going to eat for dinner. 

But, the days that I have on yesterday's makeup and yesterday's clothes just to be with my children and pour my life into them is worth it.

I love them so much. 

I understand what Paul meant when he compared his life to being POURED OUT.

My friend Jennie and I talked about how Jesus has to fill us up every morning because our souls are DRIP DRY at night... nothing left.

I tell Tim often, "I left it all on the field today."

But, that is what being a mother is all about.

"We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too."

1 Thess 2:8

Time is racing by and I am realizing I can't get it back. What I invest in the children today is my only opportunity. I am so thankful for the option of educating at home. I KNOW it is not for everyone. I never dreamed it would be for me. But, it keeps our family together. I get so much time with the children. I get to see almost every one of their "firsts". Yes, it is hard. I fell apart the other day and just started crying because I was so overwhelmed. No matter how you choose to educate your children, know that what you are investing in them TODAY is what they will have tomorrow. 

Invest wisely!! 

Let's raise up the next generation to know, love, and serve God by the power of His Holy Spirit and His Word!

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matt 19:14

 And never forget to CLING to Jesus begging for new strength, His joy, His creativity, His ABILITY.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work."

1 Tim 1:12

Discipling children is a LONG-TERM investment. It may be YEARS and years before we see "fruit". But, we patiently wait like the farmer talked about in the book of James...
"Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near."
James 5:7,8

As you enter into a new season, whether you are still single and praying for a godly husband, or a working mom, or your kids are starting a new school, keep your eyes on Jesus. He is faithful. Don't let the culture or the world choke out what is eternal (people, family, God's Word, ministry, etc...). Step out in faith and do the thing God is tugging on your heart to do.

"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

1 Thess 5:24

Be Blessed~

Steph