My young men showing initiative!

We were blessed this weekend by the boys
Proverbs 8:32-33
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it."
The boys are learning and growing by leaps and bounds and it is beautiful to see.
Thomas mowed the entire front yart while Ethan helped his dad cut limbs and sweep up.  What a blessing it was for Van to have that extra help. 
Today they had their first lemonade stand and sold 41 cups of Lemonade.   What a blessing to see them beginning to understand the value of hard work.

Learning Consistancy at our house

We recently spent 2 weeks with a zero tolerance policy.  Zero tolerance for not doing chores without being reminded.  Remembering chores had become very inconsistant at best and I was beginning to sound like a parrot.  I've not been a parrot since.  I always think I'm being consistant, but consistancy is the absolutlely hardest concept to follow and to instill in another human.  Now that everyone is remembering their particular chores, we are trying to follow through with some positive reinforcment without letting ourselves fall back into inconsistancy. 

"Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances" Elizabeth Elliot

I'm a blessed woman, I know this.  I have a mighty Savior, a loving husband, 3 wonderful children.  I live in a great country in a remarkable time in history.  I know these things, but sometimes all the todo in my life gets the better of me.  I've been reading Elizabeth Elliot lately and trying to refocus my thinking.  She has a wonderful book titled "Keep a Quiet Heart" that has been a real blessing.  Each section I read seems to speak directly to me and the exciting part is; she ties scripture in so beautifully that it is almost a mini Bible Study each night.  Oddly, this isn't what I sat down to write, but out it came.  I guess it was what I needed to say tonight.

Do You Forgive Me?

I think I need to learn this phrase in several languages just to break up the monotony. 
The last couple of days have found this phrase on my lips numerous times and I can't decide if it is a good thing or a bad thing.  Obviously it is a good thing to ask forgiveness for offenses, but the problem here is that I keep having the offenses.
Maybe I'm having no more than usual, just more sensitive to them lately.
I will press on, just wanted to share my struggles.

Blessing to their mother

Sorry it has been so quiet on this blog of late, but I've been a bit under the weather since June 29th.  I had fever for about 11 days and I've been slowly regaining my strength.

During those days of being ill, I was blessed to see how the training of our children is progressing.  There were times of taking advantage of the sick mom, but most were times of peace and calm reigning here.

The children did their chores willingly, pitching in to help where I could not.  Becca cooked dinner more than once and allowed her brothers to assist her in the kitchen.  Laundry was washed and folded, the dishwasher was unloaded and loaded, the beds were made.  The house ran very smoothly even with a sick mom.  I'm not saying they don't need me; I think they are glad to have me functioning again, but it is nice to know that the years of training are showing such wonderful fruit.

I love caring for my family and am delighted to be able to perform my duties again.  What a blessing it is to a mother to know her family is willing to pitch in when needed.

In saying all this, I can't forget Van.  My wonderful husband has done so much to aid in my recovery.  Cooking meals, cleaning kitchens, grocery shopping and running the children and me hear there and yonder; this while doing all his normal duties of bringing home the bacon.  Thank you Van, for taking care of me.

an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking

Epiphany

I have realized something about boys.  I think this realization has been growing in me for some time, so maybe it can't be called an epiphany, but it all came together today.  So I'll share.
Boys escalate any given situation. 
First they are satisfied with rolling a ball, then it ESCALATES to bouncing a ball, then it ESCALATES to throwing a ball, then bouncing and throwing, then rolling, bouncing and throwing...I think you get the picture. 
I could see this escalation taking on some real negative forms as they grow.  Something to be aware of; I suppose.

Home Sweet Home

Our excellent travelers have blessed us again.  They are way better travelers that I am, I fall asleep, have to stop for the bathroom, complain that I'm hungry.  They just read and look out the window.  Who's children are they anyway?  Must be Van's children.  Glad to be home, now to the mounds of laundry and the list for the grocery.

Reunited with our young men!!

We picked up the boys from my Brother and Sister-in-laws home yesterday.  We were blessed to spend the night in their home and have a home cooked meal, which is indeed a blessing when one has been traveling.
The boys were in so healthy and happy, thanks to the wonderful care they received from Mum, Aunt Karen, Jennie and Uncle John.  Some of the wonderful things they reported were;
making new friends, one in Hattiesburg and another in Batesville/Oxford.
Bowling (always a crowd pleaser with the VanZant clan)
Swimming (especially jumping off the high dive)
Playing at the splash park with cousin Parker
And last but not least, Fishing with Uncle John (and of course, getting to drive the boat about 60 mph (so the speeed demon reports, but that sounds like one of those fish tales to me)
We now know who the fisherman in our family is...Ethan seems to have the patience to fish, while Thomas is beginning to realize that he's a tad impatient (a wonderful life lesson from Uncle John).
Ethan was full of hugs (catching up for all the missed ones)
Thomas said, "I only missed you at bedtime."  Does a mother's heart good to be missed anytime. : )

Thank you to all who cared for and loved my boys in my absence.  I'm reminded of this blessing from 2 Thes.  May it be for you.
2 Thes 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Once again God proves his power and his mercy to us.  While on our trip, Becca was outside climbing trees, not 20 feet from our door, when she lost her grip and fell, landing on her back and right hip.  When I saw her walking toward me, I instantly knew something was wrong and was more assured of this when the first words out of her mouth were, "It's ok, I can breathe now."  Great to know she could breath, but scary to think there were moments she could not.  She had landed so hard and so suddenly that by the time she reached us, she was becoming very pale and shaky.  We had her sit down and got a wash cloth for her to wipe a few bumps and scrapes.  As soon as the rush of fear and uncertainty had passed, we praised God together that she wasn't more seriously injured, what a joy to praise your Savior for the blessed protection of your daughter. 

Whitewater Rafting today

Two hot-tired folks were picked up after 6 hours of this...

Horses and Trees

We are having a great time with a few adventures to boot.  Last night, we stayed in #8 Chalet (not highly recommended), it was smokey and the bed was extremely uncomfortable, not to mention that in the middle of the night he heater came on (we're talking 70 outside), then after Van shut it off it made popping noises.  Kind of freaked us out.  The company moved us to one of their hotels (very nice, I must say) and it is much more comfortable tonight.  Becca and Van went horseback riding this morning and I went shopping (great shops in Dillard).  Then lunch and Dulcimer shopping (we found one and Becca is making great strides already).  Before the Dulcimer shopping, Becca felt like we should have some adventure, so she fell out of a tree, landing on her back and knocking the wind out of herself.  Praise the Lord, she was fine and after a few tense moments (she was very pale), all was right with the world plus a few bruises and scrapes.  What a fun adventurous, musical girl we have.  More tomorrow.

13 year trip

Based on the example of Godly friends, we are beginning the tradition of a special trip for our 13 year olds.  We have passed that milestone with our oldest.  She turned 13 in May.  She and her Daddy planned a wonderful trip for the three of us.  We are on our way to Dillard, Georgia for a whitewater rafting trip, a horse back ride in the mountains, and some dulcimer shopping, then it is down to Atlanta to the American Girl Store.  We are already having such a wonderful time building memories with her.  She is becoming such a fun, beautiful, graceful, loving, Godly young woman who blesses us daily and it is a pleasure to bless her with this special trip. 
Continuing to grow,
Evelyn

Friends and shopping

Becca and I had a new experience today.  We had a girls day out with one of Becca's friends (long story, short; Becca's friend's mom is deployed with the Coast Guard (thank you for all you do), but she (the friend) wanted to go Father's day shopping without "father."  We spent about two hours enjoying all the stores we could stand and after Father's Days needs were met; we enjoyed a lunch date to "Friday's".  After we came home, Becca said, "That was really fun, we should do that more often; just a girls shopping trip." 

I have a sneaking suspicion this is just the beginning of all the fun we can have with this. 

Give me a chance

A wise friend once told me that as my children grow up, I should give them opportunities to prove themselves.  Her example was relateing a time that her teens were staying home every Tuesday while she and her husband went to a Bible Study; each Tuesday as dinner was being finished and the parents were preparing to leave for the study, she would remind her daughters to clean the kitchen before they went to bed.  After several weeks of being reminded, one daughter said, "Mom, please don't tell us to clean the kitchen, we know what we need to do, but you never give us the chance to show you that we can be responsible to remember on our own."  I try and remember this, but as a mom, I feel obligated to remind them.  This week, however, I told Becca on Monday that she was invited to a friend's to play on Friday, but since I had already planned my school week, she would have to complete all her Friday school on the other four days.  She did it without my reminding her.  Perhaps it was the exciting goal, or perhaps it is that she is growing up right before my eyes.  I am blessed.

Dinner ala Becca!

Becca wanted to learn some of my recipes this summer so that she could cook a meal a week next school year (this was totally her idea, I promise).  Tonight was Chicken and Dumplings.  They turned out great and now, she's got one recipe down.  The trick to my Chicken and Dumplings is broth in the dumplings, not water.  YUMMY! 

Growing up?

Becca was complimented last night at youth group and she shared with me.  Another mom, came up and asked her if she would be in 10th grade next year.  Becca will be in 8th grade.  The mom said, "wow, you are so mature and so tall."  Made her night.  I told her that it glorifies God when others notice your maturity.

Consider what is being learned at our home.

This is not only being learned by the youngest, but the oldest in our house as well.  Selfishness reared its ugly head again yesterday.
Has this ever happened in your home?  In this abode it was the culmination of a week of "not considering." 
This wasn't just one child winning and one child losing, this was a heart issue; a selfishness issue. 

Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."  God doesn't look down from heaven and cheer because we got a home run, swim faster than our brother or even (I can't believe I'm saying this) keep a neat home, or sew a beautiful skirt.  He cheers when we "Do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others better than yourself"  or to paraphrase Micah 6:8...acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God. 

My little sinner was acting under the guise of justice, but he showed no mercy and was definantly not walking humbly.  I fail daily to lay a good example before my children.  I'm so thankful that they are not to grow up to be like me, but that they are to grow up to be like Christ, a much, much, much better example.

Each lesson learned continues to grow them in wisdom before God an man.

Bedtime and talking??

Apparently, this is the time that teenagers (at least mine) like to talk.  I'm usually done in by this time of day, but I'm going to try and make a concerted effort to listen for a few minutes each night.  Hey, how about I tuck them in just a bit early in order to give us a little talk time.  I always want to be there for her and the boys, too; whenever they want to talk.
Becca made me so proud today.  We spent the afternoon helping a friend with some organizing and sorting and B pitched right in.  Folded two baskets of laundry, sorted through toys and entertained my friend's daughter.  It is a joy to work side-by-side with her. 

Cervice, curvise, survize, SERVICE...

Teaching service seems to be such a hard concept.  Perhaps I need to live it out more effectively.
Eph 6: 
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

I think I'll try and meditate on this passage this week.

Revived!

My sweet family gave me a little time off today.   What a blessing.  I felt much revived after getting a few much needed errands run and a few new shirts for my wardrobe.  Becca said I did well.  Nothing like having your teenager approve of your shopping sense.  Tomorrow is the Lord's Day and I'm looking forward to that blessed day of rest.  God is so wise!!

gniknihT sdrawkcaB (Backwards Thinking)

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.

I know this is me and I let it show today.   Being inconsistent in my discipline of late has caused some confusion around this house and my temper got the best of me today when one of my children (who shall remain nameless); took advantage one too many times.  It was like the straw that broke the camel's back and I broke with it.  It reminded me of the above passage as I often feel that I live so backward from what the Lord requires of me. 

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Thank you for showing me again, O Lord.

Thankfulness

God had already been working on me where thankfulness is concerned; but now I see it is spilling over to my sweet Becca. 
We have so much, truly, so much!!  Never do I lack for anything I need, there are "wants" unfullfilled, but never needs and yet I'm so often ungrateful for the these things.  I believe that I've become brainwashed by this society of entitlements.  If I were to really receive what I'm entitled to; I would have nothing worthwhile; but Praise Be to God almighty for his indescribable gift.  Christ paid it all so that I now am entitled, but I need to remember at what cost it was paid.  Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Becca was learning her thankfulness in a different way: She has been doing so well in her math of late, that I've allowed her the priviledge of doing only the odd or even of her lesson.  Yesterday, 3 of her problems were done incorrectly because of not wanting to redo the problem even though she knew the answer was wrong.  She wasn't thankful for the gift of a partial lesson.  This was a perfect opportunity to apply the life lesson above. 

It is beautiful to see how God prepares me, in advance, to deal with the issues my children are about to experience.  He is so wonderfully in control.  A control, that only He, as an all seeing God, can have.

Puppy, Puppy, Puppy!!!

We have had the pleasure of babysitting a friend's daughter today.  She is a delightful little girl, we have really enjoyed having her in our home .  The kids have each taken turns playing with her and I've had my fun,too.  One always forgets what funny things children do and say.  This sweet girl is absolutely amazed at how many "puppies" we have.  It seems that there is a new "puppy" in every room.  She is wonderfully surprised with each new "puppy" she finds.  It is actually that our Golden Retriever is very quiet and follows us around faithfully, so she sneaks in and our little guest never sees her moving, only spotting her after she has arrived and settled in.

Baseball and Knitting

At first glance, one may not think these two would be a compatible topic, but knitting and baseball go hand-in-hand (no pun intended).  While the boys practice their latest baseball techniques with Coach Greco, Coach Ed and Coach Nathan, Becca and I practice our latest knitting stitches.  She is knitting hair bun covers for her friends and I'm attempting to knit a blanket for an unsuspecting baby whom I'm sure I'll love and adore.  It was so pleasant to sit under the shade tree with  the perfect amount of breeze and visit with friends.  I thought, more than once, that I should have an ice cold lemonade near by and be snapping beans for supper, but those times seem long gone, so I will content myself with knitting during baseball practice and enjoying the companionship of my friends and daughter.

Responsibility breeds responsibility

I've always been thankful that I had my daughter first.  One reason is that as a child I was a tomboy, but after 13, I was a girly girl.  My Van called me a "bow-head" (I wore those great big bows) and I was a bow-head and very girly; always more comfortable in a dress.  All this to say I enjoyed dolling up my girl.  My father said of me, after Becca was born, "she has a real live doll to play with now."  She has always been my right hand, fetching diapers/wipes, fixing juice cups for her baby brothers and once she was trying to catch her brother's blood as it poured from a gash in his head.  There are times that I've wondered what I'd do without her and all her help.  Now she is sitting for her brothers and giving me much needed respites from home and getting paid to help out.  Responsibility truly breeds responsibility.

The Hairbrush

I posted this link because it reminds me that my Creator serves his Creation. 
This is so backward from what the world believes, that we should be served by others because we deserve to be served.  We should be serving others as an example of how Christ serves us.
 http://www.proclaimhisglory.org/html/lesson_with_a_hairbrush.html

The Birthday Cake

I made my Becca her birthday cake in the style of the road of life (my mom did this for me when I was 13).  The milestones along the road were scriptures that hopefully will guide her on this road to adulthood.

Luke 10:27 (English Standard Version)


27And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

Ephesians 4:29 (English Standard Version)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

1 Timothy 4:12 (English Standard Version)

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Song of Solomon 2:7 (English Standard Version)

7I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles or the does of the field,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

Psalm 119:9-11 (English Standard Version)

Beth

9How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

10With my whole heart I seek you;

let me no wander from your commandments!

11I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (English Standard Version)

31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

13 year old's birthday cake.

I just discovered this hymn by Charles Wesley

Young men and maidens, raise
Your tuneful voices high;
Old men and children, praise
The Lord of earth and sky;
Him Three in One and One in Three,
Extol to all eternity.

The universal King
Let all the world proclaim;
Let every creature sing
His attributes and Name!
Him Three in One and One in Three,
Extol to all eternity.

In His great Name alone
All excellencies meet,
Who sits upon the throne,
And shall forever sit;
Him Three in One and One in Three,
Extol to all eternity.

Glory to God belongs;
Glory to God be given,
Above the noblest songs
Of all in earth or heaven!
Him Three in One and One in Three,
Extol to all eternity.

James 3:2

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.  This is my most recent teenage lesson.  Praise the Lord for his infinate grace.

We are entering the teenage years with our oldest and Lord willing, we will be living with teenagers for the next 12 years. I may be naive or I may be completely wacko, but I am eagerly anticipating that God will grow me right along with my teenagers. He has blessed me through their babyhood, toddler years, preschool years, their elementary years and their junior high years, so I see no reason to doubt Him now. Join me on this journey of loving and learning.