Your Wishes/Your Command

Have you ever heard, "Your wish is my command?" 

Sappy, dating couples sometimes say it.  (And usually married couples gag in response.)

Back in our dating days, the Rugged Mountain Boyfriend Man said,

"If we always make each others' wishes, our commands,
we will always have a super relationship!"

It takes time to consider the preferences of your husband. 

I challenge you to think of something today, a preference - a wish - of your husband's, and make it happen.  Serving each other, makes for happy days, day after day.

Hike a Mountain; Learn about God's Character

The girls and I have been thoroughly enjoying the unseasonably warm days that have been smattered here and there across our early November weeks. 



It's been refreshing to get outside, to breathe the fresh air and to see God's handiwork.  It's one of the best ways for children to get to know God.  His handiwork has His character written all over it. 

 

In His creation, children (and adults!) learn that God is big, because they can see His vastness with their own two eyes. 

 

They learn that He cares, because it is obvious that He put it there for them to enjoy, because He knows each sparrow that falls. 

 

They learn that He is orderly, because it is obvious that this Earth was not an accident.  Each season, each creature, each plant has an orderly life cycle. 

 

They can see that He is powerful, by the miracles in the life cycle of a leaf or the splendor of a mountain view. 

 

They pause for a moment and know, deep in their own spirits, that He is truly present; something we can tell them, but they can only truly know by the Holy Spirit's revelation to their own spirit. 

 

They too lift up their eyes to the hills; from the hills comes their Help, to quote the Psalmist poet. 

 

So many lessons from a few hours in His world. 

 

Another lesson for children in hiking, is learning to press through difficulty. 

This hike was SO gorgeous and entirely worth the effort.  However, my sister, my friend and I decided that it wasn't really child friendly.  We each carried our youngest on our backs.  As there was excessive erosion on the trails, the trail was exceedingly rocky and somewhat steep.  Progress was slow and nerve-wracking at times. 



Still, we powered through and enjoyed ice cream afterward. 

 

Get out in God's world and let Him reveal Himself to you and your children.

Fall/Winter Discovery

I've never proclaimed to be an expert homesteader or veteran gardener.  I live too far away from my grandparents (resident gardening experts) for everyday advice.  I usually save such phone calls for those one time questions like, "How do you know when rhubarb is ready to harvest?"  In any case, the Rugged Mountain Man and I literally learn as we go, painfully at times (like the year I planted the corn THREE times!!!)

This year, our monumental discovery was planting a very late crop of cold-loving leafy greens. 

When we purchased seeds, we ventured into the world of arugula.  It's a stretch if you consider that we were pretty hard core Romaine lettuce people.  While the Blossoms aren't totally in love with the arugula, the Rugged Mountain Man and I adore the savory tang it leaves in your mouth.  And, to appease the troops, we put in a row of Romaine lettuce.  (However, when the Romaine lettuce runs out, guess who's eating arugula.  Sorry, girls, having the "wrong" kind of greens is really a first world problem.)

It's November and we are still regularly eating lettuce and arugula out of the garden, even after several frosts.  At a time when we're normally putting the garden to bed, we saved some space for the leafy greens and are tickled pink with the result. 

Now, next year, I'd like to delve into cold frames a bit.  I've heard you can really extend your growing season!  I'd love to eat organic leafy greens from our plot ten months out of the year.  I'd call that a real gardening success.  Until then, I'm going to keep enjoying my November arugula, while I thank God for a little rookie success...

Check out your State Parks!

Sometimes we aren't aware of all that is available around us. 

In our state, many of the state parks offer spring and fall Homeschool Days. 

They are hands-on days that cover such topics as vermiculture (that's worms, people!), migration of birds of prey, fishing, Native American weapons and amphibian identification, just to name a few.

 

Getting your hands dirty in your education has long been one of my mom's favorite ways to expose her kids to new topics and situations. 



Now I'm doing the same with our children. 

I loved the Birds of Prey presentation, as the Blossoms and I were able to identify the hawk that's been patrolling our place for quite some time.  (We thought he was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.  We were wrong; he was a Broad-Winged Hawk, like the one above.  Unfortunately, when our dogs were in this evening, the Broad-Winged Hawk struck, snagging one of our Bantam chickens.  Then, there was Blossom sadness.)

And, while we were observing the demonstration, we even saw him "hawk" up a hairball.  How many people can say they saw that? 

Another interesting observation is that birds of prey are placed in their cages tail-first, a move that would be bad news points deductions when handling poultry in 4-H events.  Poultry has to be placed head-first for the safety of their wings.  Birds of prey are MOST concerned about watching the handler since the birds are not domesticated.  Although that poses a risk to their wings, it's most important to keep them calm and feeling unthreatened.  So, our 4-H experiences and birds of prey experiences made for an interesting discussion.

 

Plus, Homeschool Days are perfect for that much-needed socialization that everyone thinks we're severely lacking.  (If you're missing the sarcasm as you read, I'll just let you know now how much I think socialization is NOT an issue for homeschoolers.  Most homeschoolers learn to adapt to many social situations and age group interactions quickly and adeptly, proving the point that it's best not to pigeon hole kids to one specific age group... but that's just my opinion.) 

She is socialized and evidently, she is fierce.  That's Blossom3 throwing an atlatl (Native American arrow throwing weapon). 

And, you never know, you might have a dinosaur sighting in your amazing state park! 

It's always great to get your kiddos outside as well.

Studies are now showing that kids who get outside and get moving, can focus better than kids who can't!  It's worthwhile to get out and breathe deep.  I enjoyed the beauty, the old friends and the new information, as did the girlies.  I can't wait to see what else the local state parks have up their sleeves!

Just Keep Doing Something

I think I've written a number of times about the Blossoms' personal devotions and the devotional time I have with them in the morning. 



Through my own experience and words, I've encouraged you to use the tools that are available to us.  I've also shared the Bible Story Books and devotion books that we've used at various times.  I've shared that Mommies need to adapt, adapt, adapt, when it comes to the constantly changing schedules and demands that go with having children.  I've encouraged you to just keep trying.  If something is important to you, don't give up, just because it isn't working the way you envision it to work right now.  Keep trying!  I've reminded you that if you're too busy for devotions, you're too busy.  (I know it's a hard word, but it's a much-needed word these days, and one that impacted me, as well.) 

 

When it comes to devotions with your kids, just keep doing something. 

My Dad sometimes says to employees who are standing around, "Do something, even if it's wrong." 

The point here is, at least you're trying.

I'm not talking about a half-hearted attempt, coupled with a bad attitude.  You may not know the exactly correct or perfect thing to do, but just do something.



Raising kids in this world is a faith venture.  No one has a formula for "baking the perfect cookie."  So, we step out in faith, doing our best to train up children in the way they should go.  That training is really a collection of practical things to further the Faith in their lives. 

I shared above so many of the things that God has used to help our devotional times. 

Right now, we're using Keys for Kids.  I discovered that you can actually receive it daily to your inbox for free, if you don't feel like paying the small charge to have it mailed to you.  Keys for Kids are really just parables and stories for a younger audience.  If you read the scriptures outlined at the top, your children will get a decent chunk of the Bible too.  (The girls liked Keys for Kids so much that they read the whole book in their free time!)



We will probably not always use Keys for Kids, just like we didn't always use these Bible story and devotion books.  I've learned to be ok with change, because I'm determined that by God's grace, we'll just keep doing something.