Where Oil and Water Go

Once upon a time, I used to lead a youth group, which meant that weekly, I was using what some Christians refer to as a "preaching gift."  An outsider might look in to my life and wonder what happened to that gift.  In some ways it lies dormant, but in one way, it doesn't.  My husband once encouraged me to preach to our children.  And, I thought, "Why not?"

I've read some old-time literature about the non-loving, dry individuals that used every opportunity to tell children that they should be seen and not heard or else they'd be popped into a special naughty children bag by an ogre (or some other such nonsense.)  Strange.  And, I am not that type of person, nor do I recommend that for healthy Christian child-rearing.  That's not the kind of preaching I'm talking about.

I do recommend seizing every God-given opportunity to speak a timely, Spirit led word. 

Children ask great questions.  Their imaginative conversations naturally lend themselves to interesting topics.  There is nothing wrong with a little "preach" in those conversations.  In fact, there's a whole lot right about letting the Spirit lead our conversations with our children.  God's Word is the ultimate final say.  It's the go-to on every topic.  It's the lens we filter every topic through.  It's the weight that helps us weigh what is appropriate and what is not, what is holy, what is not, what is good and what is not.  I'm not presenting a bunch of religions to my children for them to choose.  I'm leading them in the Truth we live for.  That's how we do it here.

So, when the Rugged Mountain Man walked in on the tail end of Mama passionately preaching (at the kitchen sink) about how sinners don't mix with Christians, Daddy wondered what Mommy was talking about.  Mama said, "Oh, Blossom1 wanted to know why oil and water don't mix."  The Spirit led and I followed. 

Light and darkness don't mix. 
Bad company corrupts good character. 
There's nothing in common between a sinner and a Christian. 
Never marry a sinner...
it all just started to flow out. 

Don't pass up on these precious opportunities.  If you don't speak, who will?

The (Cold) Days Ahead

I love the scenery around here.  I sweep my gaze across golden soybean-laden fields and I know, there is a God.  It's reassuring.  And something about it just resonates in my spirit.

You all know that I've been trying to walk more and every now and then the Rugged Mountain Man watches the girlies so just Jake and I can set out down our country road. 

I find these times so refreshing... not so much the being away from the Blossoms.  I've never been one that believes that a Mom always needs to get away.  (If God called you there, why do we spend so much time trying to get away or be away?)  It's more than that.  It's more like my front door opens into my prayer closet.  In the stillness I find when I'm walking, I know that He is God. 

And He speaks to me.  I was casting my cares the other day, confessing to Him that I wasn't sure I was ready for colder weather.  I know that seems like such a little thing to say to God, but I was being honest and humble before Him. 

The ease of summer for a mama is so refreshing and it's a good thing in its time.  But, God gave us four seasons.  After my little confession, He reminded me of the virtuous woman.  Proverbs 31.  A chapter I adore. 

She smiles at the days ahead. 

I thanked God for that timely word.  He'll help me to be prepared, both in all the little details I, as this family's domestic engineer, must attend to, AND in my attitude.  Summer isn't the only time of carefree joy for a mama.  I'm thankful that those cold days ahead are times of joy too.  He has so much grace to lavish upon me to do what I'm called to do.  Thank the Lord for that. 

The Very Hungry (Plastic) Caterpillar Who Eats Felt

We love The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, so why not create our own little caterpillar?  Pinterest doesn't get credit for this little project; my friend, Red does! 

Except Red's story didn't turn out so well.  She made this little project out of a Parmesan Cheese container.  Her youngest son at the time LOVED it.  She must've read the book to him about twenty times that day and he wanted it read to him one more time.  I remember her saying something about responding to him, "Not now, Honey.  I gotta do the dishes."  Next thing you know they were headed to the Emergency Room because he got his finger stuck in the smallest hole of the Parm lid. 
Gulp.  What.A.Day.


 

Just some eyes and a mouth on our caterpillar.   (I used an almonds container simply because that's what I had!)

 

Evidently Jake loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

 

So there you have it.  Cut a few shapes from leftover felt and use them to correspond to the story.  The whole project took less than five minutes.  I love that Blossom4 gets color practice and fine motor skills development when we read the story.  (Oh, and please admire the holes in my Swiss cheese slice.  Blossom2 specifically requested them.  "You can do the holes too, Mommy!") 

A substantial investment

Such a great weekend!  Full of time with family and a few little spurts of creativity. 

 

We drove approximately two hours and went to see the elk. 

(This pic makes my mama heart go pitter-patter.)

 

Just lookin' for those elk...

 

Bingo.  The visitor center boasted 40 elk and we could see them up close!  Have you ever heard elk bugling?  It is best described by watching the caribou scene on "the Polar Express."  THAT'S what elk sound like.  High and musical.  I've actually heard elk from the campfire at our cabin once, although I've never seen the elk there.

 

In between that field trip, I squeezed in some painting and polyurethaning and such for my sister's upcoming baby shower.  And, I almost broke my husband's radial arm saw.  Oh.my.goodness. 

Prayer works.  That's all I'm saying. 

 

We also took a field trip to a local ministry to troubled boys.  A wilderness camp!  So inspiring and such a great work that they're doing there.  It was also good to chum around with our local homeschool pals.

 

The time with family this weekend was so refreshing.  I happened to run across the story about the professor and the golf ball object lesson.  It's so true.  All the little details can take over everything.  Choose the most important things and let the other stuff fill in the cracks.  The Rugged Mountain Man and I choose to make a substantial investment in our children.  Time.  Time in the truck.  Time at the grocery store.  Time building domino courses.  Time making bracelets.  Lots of time together.  That's how they'll catch what we've got. 

 

Oh yes, and time for food. 

I love that my husband's hobby includes a smoker and our own micro farm-raised chicken. 

 

 

Blessings,
Dominique

A lot of people ask...

What do your little ones do while you homeschool? 

That's the most common question I get, by far.  I thought you'd enjoy a humorous look into my daily life.  I've found that "Littles" abide by their own set of rules and I spend my days, helping them to bend to my set of rules (We'll get to that in another post.  For now, some humor.)

Their rules are as follows:

- If it can be dumped, it will be dumped. 

- If it can be climbed, it will be climbed (even if you have to stop your business in the bathroom for a rescue)

- If it has a point on it, it will bitten, chewed and digested.  (leaving you with all non-working markers, no pencils and definitely no erasers)

- If it is hung on the wall and within reach, it will be yanked down.  (So don't buy expensive maps)

- If it is hung on the wall and within reach of any furniture, it will be down.  (Yes, hanging something high, is never high enough.)

- If it is in a stack, it will be scattered.  (Ahem. Sorry, Honey.  That's why the printer paper is all wrinkly.)

- If there is a button, it will be pushed.  Not once, but repeatedly.  (Now we keep the computer closed at all times.)

- If it is small, it will go in the mouth.  (Remember those really cute holiday magnets???  Who thought that was a great idea for a schoolroom?)

- If there is a group working together on the favorite red couch, there will be crowd-surfing and giggling.  (Get a visual of a 16 month old falling backward from the couch arm, onto school books and laps and then wriggling down to run and do it again.)

- If it is a served snack, it will not be eaten.

- If it is a discovered snack, it will be devoured.

- If a Little's naptime would help school time, they'll fight it like sleep would kill 'em.  Then, they'll conk when it doesn't do your school time any good.

- If it can be opened, it will be opened... but never closed. 

- If there is a sippy cup, it will always be missing.

- If there is a favorite toy, concept of previous rule applies.

So, there you have it.  I know what I want the "Littles" to be doing while I work with the "Bigs."  The "Littles" know what they want to be doing while I work with the "Bigs."  We spend the day meshing those two together, coming up with a semblance of order that lets the "Bigs" concentrate, the "Littles" develop their imaginations and Mommy satisfied with everyone's educational progress. 

Another time we'll talk about my real life strategies for getting school done.